Discussion on:

Rebuilding trust in the workplace

> Today, one-third of working Americans say they plan to look for a new job when the economy gets better,

One-third of working Americans still trust the other employers? Well, that's not bad at all!

Anyway, they are going to plan for a looong long time, because the economy isn't going to get any better soon. The coming depression is only at its opening stages. They will stay put- if they are lucky.

This is what makes the following process feasible. It's far more simple than what you've proposed, and, above all, very cost effective, which is all that matters nowadays:

1. Hunt down and eliminate all mistrustful and/or disengaged employees. Employee satistfaction survey, which looks anonymous, but really isn't, is the most common method.

2. Check the employee wear indicators regularily, and replace as necessary. With the experience gained in step 1, selecting the fresh pieces from the vast pool of unemployed talent should be easy.

Every one of these points is dependant on being trusted.
You want to be "trusted", next time you have the chance to further your own interests by acting against someone elses, don't take it IF you wish to maintain their trust.

If a business feels it's in it's interest to act against mine, I don't feel betrayed that it does. If a manager does the same thing, I don't feel betrayed either. I can assure you I act in what I percieve to be mine, and I quite understand that it might not be yours or theirs. If that occurs we shake hands, part ways, end of story.

These are not a breakdown of trust, there was none to break. Breakdown of trust is when you ask for it, get something from it and then do the fool who gave you it up the back.

Which is what you are angling for here isn't it. Point 4 especially....

Stop talking complete drivel and start talking mutual self interest, that can be trusted always.

utter bolocks seems to be a large part of many TR blogs of late

In today's world, those reasons can probably be boiled down to making more money available for shareholder dividends & executive bonuses.

Not one of your best.

Cynicism filter was off.

Would 'possibly' have been better?

"Conjecturally, on account of what I hear from the homeless on the street."

I am CEO, owner, and have been for 35 years. Not a huge one; nevertheless, making business decisions everyday for those 35 years that have and directly do now impact livelihoods.

I, and my ilk -- we are an exceedingly tiny minority in the hubbub of voices here, as well as in the world. I generally hold my tongue on this forum in these matters, suspecting that others of my kind here do, too, to avoid being battered and hung upside-down, naked from a public lamp post.

Sometimes, though, I can't not speak.

A decision(1), as made by a human, weighed down by responsibilities and what-ifs - can hardly be compared to a decision(2) as made by a committee, made weightless by the tricks of responsibility-go-away consultants.

Just like the meaning of "consultant" in the above is different from the "consultant" usually used around here.

BTW; I don't think there should be a difference between decisions 1 and 2, I think it's a big problem that some management people try to shirk the responsibilities. They should carry them, it would stop a lot of crap happening.

I wouldn't trust you with my livelihood.

The nature of your role precludes being able to meet that trust and that's the implicit dishonesty in the article.

To ask to be trusted with something you can't be trusted with, means you are untrustworthy.

To not ask for a trust that you can't return, means you can be trusted to a point.

This is basic inter-personal relationships, I means you pick this up when you share your sweets with Fred today, and tomorrow he turns up with suspiciously full cheeks saying he hasn't got none....

You can trust fat Fred up to the point a bag of jelly babies becomes available.

Link is at the bottom of the post

http://www.reinatrustbuilding.com/

They seem to be some sort of management consultants, phrenologists, or something like that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4NmjNjJa9E

Those kinds of hermetically sealed business sites are scary.
Every page seems to contain a contact form, whereas no page provides tangible information.
It may just be a question of style... but I don't like it.

The only thing you can trust about any company is that it will do what is in it's own best self-interest.

I used to watch people with this "we are all family" frame of mind move into their offices stuffed animals and all; then get their "hearts" broken with a pink slip.

IT is all about the bottom line and when you lose sight of that your just fooling yourself.

Don't bring in pictures and all the junk. Keep a bag packed by the door with your stuff in it and if your office has a white board keep a count down list on it to remind yourself what position you are really in.

That way all you have to do is wipe the board, pick up your bag, put on your coat and leave.