Page banner

5 Myths About Trust


by David Swain

In most situations today, we tend not to think about being part of why things aren’t working.  Few people trust their neighbours, and even fewer trust government structures.  Why, then would anyone trust their company? Some statistics indicate that just 49% of employees trust senior management, and a mere 28% of them think CEOs are a reliable source of information. Trust, though, is a must if you’re looking to achieve your organizational goals. Unfortunately, few people really understand the truths behind trust. 

Myth #1 – Trust is Soft

Trust is actually very real and very quantifiable. The statistics in the first paragraph were pretty clear, right? You can clearly see, in organizations that are trustworthy, higher loyalty by customers and employees alike.

Myth #2 – Trust is Slow

While it can take some time to build trust, the truth is that once trust is established every thing happens faster. When your employees or network members trust your organizational goals or even you as a leader, trust takes over, and the results are swift.

Myth #3 – You Either Have it Or You Don’t 

Sorry, this one isn’t true either. Trust isn’t like matter. It can be both created and destroyed. You can build trust among your employees and stakeholders, but taking the wrong actions on a regular basis or even in a single situation can help to destroy everything you’ve built. The key is to maintain it once you have it.

Myth #4 – Once Lost, Trust Cannot Be Restored 

If you read Myth 3 you understand that trust can be both created and destroyed, and that’s true even if you have managed to lose the trust of anyone inside your organization. You can rebuild that trust and it is worth the time and effort it will take.

Myth #5 – You Can’t Teach Trust 

Sure, trust is rare commodity in our society today, and it can be tough to teach people how to trust, but with the right knowledge and a strong commitment, trust can certainly be taught to every member of your organization.

The organizational consequences of low or lacking trust are massive, but building trust is certainly possible, and the results can be staggering.

 

 


David SwainDavid Swain, BSc Mgmt., MSOD, CEC, PCC with over 30 years’ experience in both coaching the leaders of large organizations and leading them himself.
LinkedIn

 


  

 

 
Top of page