Drawn from “Speed of Trust” by Stephen M.R. Covey. The Collier Companies Fall 2013 Conference of Champions featured a two day “Speed of Trust” seminar by FranklinCovey
Trust speeds up everything, makes life smoother, easier. Great. But how to get/earn trust? How to deserve trust? What creates trust?
Trust depends on credibility; credibility in turn rests upon 4 core values. The first two deal with Character and the second two with Competence.
Integrity: Integrity is much more than honesty, it is both alignment and openness: Your Thoughts, Words and Actions must be congruent. We are constantly radiating our values, in ways big and small. Your every action teaches the belief systems which motivate it. As the saying goes, “what you do, speaks so loudly, I cannot hear what you say”.
Intent: Intent matters; people need to know you care. Since we tend to judge ourselves by our actions and others by fearful interpretations of their actions, it is important to declare your intent upfront and then live up to your words scrupulously. Intent ties into your motives, your purpose, your agenda. The best leaders embrace stewardship, knowing they are fiduciaries, holding their power as trustees, fully accountable to all stakeholders.
The meaning of any message you send can be found in the response you receive.
After a while you can no longer talk your way out of what you behaved yourself into; only consistent action will restore your credibility
Capability: You may have incredible integrity and the best of intentions but if you lack the necessary skill set then you can’t be trusted to get the job done. Trustworthy people are continuous learners, always “sharping the saw”. “Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value – surprisingly quickly”. – David Maister, retired HBS professor, b. 1947
Results: “It’s Performance That Counts, Not Activity or Good Intentions.” i.e. Don’t tell me how hard you are working, show me what you got done! Results DO matter and yet it is also vital that those results be achieved in a principled manner. Results achieved by duplicitous methods are not sustainable; sooner or later low trust methods will result in your customers, your suppliers or your team members leaving you.
Closing Quotes:
“True, trust necessarily carries with it uncertainties, but think of these uncertainties as new and unimagined possibilities and opportunities, not as liabilities.” – Robert C. Solomon, 1942-2007, philosophy professor, University of Texas
“All power is a trust; we are accountable for its exercise.” Benjamin Disraeli, 1804 –1881, two time British Prime Minister
“He who does not trust enough, will not be trusted.” – Lao Tzu