Insights 13: The value of Trust in turbulent times

Thoughtful quotations:

“A person who battles to trust others, is unlikely to be trusted”  Harold McMillan (shortened)

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody, is to trust them” Ernest Hemmingway

“Trust is in the eye of the beholder” Cynthia Olmstead 

Context for reflection:

Trust is the fundamental to strong relationships as it is the platform of everything a relationship has to offer. Trust gives the comfort and security that people will be honoured. So, in turn, trust ensures we give of our best. Any doubt, and the relationship is damaged allowing for uncertainty that derails us.

Trust is the cornerstone of the effective leader, yet it is one of the hardest skills to master. It is difficult as we often perceive it with different lenses.

Examine a team that delivers consistently excellent results, and one will find trusting relationships. Yet, in many organisations, doubt, fear and half-truths prevail. Reasons for mistrust vary widely in teams but at the core, are the leader’s courage of conviction, openness, and consistency.

Mistrust in teams has its roots in a lack of:

• Authenticity (honesty & integrity),

• Capability (ability to deliver in line with the requirements of the relationship),

• Relatedness (relationship and care), and

• Reliability (demonstrating consistency and dependability). 

In the recent turbulent times of massive change, we have all experienced a lack of certainty and security, placed on us by the external environment. With these experiences, emotions of fear and failure increase. Trusting relationships become so much more important and simply must be the focus of the authentic leader. At the core of building trust is empathy through listening, hearing, seeking to understand and addressing team concerns openly, clearly and directly. If we want performance, we must take time to listen to our team!

A few question to contemplate:

• What’s stopping you trusting your team? How can you manage through this?

• Does your team trust you? (Pons Consulting has a Trust Survey that will give you clear feedback)

• How do you actively promote trust every day in your team engagements?

Drafted in all humility as I continue my journey of discovery. It is indeed challenging, with so much to remember and learn.

Andrew Pons

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