“Trust knows no limits–trusting opens the doorways to the spirit…Trust begets trust and fear escalates fear”. Jack R. Gibb
Trust is the foundation of ” Yes We Can” leadership. Trust is built by doing what you say you will do (dwysywd), showing respect for all, openness, credibility, honesty and communicating the truth to others and your self. Without trust, leadership efforts are generally not successful. How do we build trust? I believe that trust develops from the way we treat people and how people respond to and relate to each other. In fact most research indicates that trust can be build in systematic and deliberate ways. The four most important trust behaviors are:
1. Showing respecting to others– listening and acknowledge their contributions, points of view, skills/talents. Speak directly, do not put people down through criticism or sarcasm and learn to disagree in a pleasant and non-judgmental ways.
2. Openness– being personal by self-disclosing and sharing with people information, feelings and points of view. When interacting using two-way communication techniques questioning, clarifying, demonstrating understanding through restatement and /reflecting and responding to request and bids for contact and attention.
3. DWYSYWD- keep your promises by communicating often and doing what you say you will do.
4. Being present when others speak. Encourage involvement of others in opportunity finding and problem solving.
Trust is more than confidence. One dictionary tells us that trust implies instinctive, unquestioning belief in and reliance upon someone or something. Confidence implies conscious trust because of good reasons, definite evidence, fact-based data or past experience. Confidence is cerebral, more planned and based on expectations than trust. Trust is more intuitive and instinctive, it is spontaneous and more freely given. So ask yourself: What is trust? How do you know, when it is present? When broken how do you repair the damage? How can Obama restore trust to government?
Let’s talk about how fear stops open interaction and discourse and arouses the defenses. When I am fearful I direct my energies not into discovering and creating, but toward protecting myself from seen, expected, or disaster fantasies or dangers. I am not sure of who I am, cover up and put on protective masks, become concerned about how I ought to meet the expectations of others, and find it difficult to be myself and openly interact with others. Trust enriches my experience; fear robs it. When Obama smiles he seems to be reaching out and connecting to a friendly world he knows and has experienced and he expects recporicity and acceptance. To me he is transparent, open, ready to be engaged. He seems to be saying he will trust me in his world. In my very best moments, I feel inside the way he seems to be when he is smiling at us. Trusting, calm, confident and full of life. Obama and other government officials can boost their odds of harnessing the power of trust and collective action by using the right tactics, such as emphasizing two-way communication with Republicans. For example, having a bi-partison dinner for John McCain or inviting the Republican caucus to explain the “stimulus package”.
