The High Cost... Of Low Trust
June 18, 2010
By Dan Nielsen
dnielsen@nihcl.com
Stephen M. R. Covey, the highly successful son of Dr. Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) writes and speaks on the critical importance of trust. A Harvard MBA, Stephen wrote the book entitled The Speed of Trust. Stephen speaks and consults around the world regarding the critical importance and the many benefits of creating and maintaining a culture squarely and intentionally based on mutual trust.
We have all seen, read or heard multiple books, articles, presentations, videos, blogs and other information regarding trust. So much so that many people, when seeing or hearing yet another form of communication focused on trust, simply yawn, nod their head in agreement and either physically or mentally walk away.
A recent advertisement for an upcoming Covey presentation on trust caught my eye. The words within the advertisement do a great job of capturing and communicating just how important a culture of trust really is. In part, the advertisement read:
- “TRUST, more important than VISION you ask? Yes! No matter how grand the vision, the high cost of low trust can prevent you from reaching your vision profitably.
- TRUST, more important than STRATEGY? Yes! While high trust can’t make a poor strategy succeed, the high cost of low trust can derail an otherwise great strategy.
- TRUST, more important than SYSTEMS and STRUCTURE you ask? Yes! No degree of re-engineering and quality control can overcome the sabotage and tax of a low trust culture.
- TRUST, more important than SKILLS you ask? Yes! No matter how skilled a group, the high cost of low trust can disrupt their potential success. Nothing repels talent like a high control, low trust workplace.”
Vision, strategy, systems and structure, skills... all extremely important... I am sure you agree. Most people, most executives, most companies and most organizations of all types spend far more time and effort talking about and endeavoring to execute on vision, strategy, systems, structure and skills than they do on trust. And yet, if Stephen Covey is right and I believe he is, trust is as important, if not more important than vision, strategy, systems, structure and skills.
Trust. Far, far more important than most people, most executives, most companies and most organizations understand. If you don’t believe this... just look around. Action speaks far louder than words!
Trust. Eternally worthy of pursuit and excellence in intent and practice, regardless of who we are, where we are, what we do or what we aspire to achieve. Just as humans must have health (life) in order to achieve or accomplish anything, so it is that humans and organizations must create and maintain high levels of trust in order to come anywhere close to achieving our individual and collective potential.
Trust. Eternally worthy of pursuit and excellence in intent and practice!
Copyright © 2010 by Dan Nielsen
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