Sunday Thoughts on Trust
Tim Butler ??
Edgar R. Smith III Professor | AMA CCC President| I inspire future leaders at Southeastern Louisiana U
Note: I feel compelled to share my thoughts this way from time to time because it helps me express and develop the concepts that crop up in the ol' brain. I also have been advised by mentors like Dr. Howard Dover that articles are effective ways to make an impact in the LinkedIn space. And I trust Howard.
Trust is important, many agree. But why? Why is trust so important? I think there are some important premises that must be generally accepted to agree that trust is indeed important.
First, personal success is dependent on the strength of relationships. And that doesn't mean that an individual has no control over personal success, but it does mean that collaborating with others and treating individuals with respect, empathy, and kindness has a substantial impact on personal success.
Second, helping others and improving the lives of people is the right thing to do. And in order to accomplish that, an individual must trust that people will not interpret their kindness as weakness. One must trust that most (if not all) people deserve help. A person needs to trust that focusing on others will ultimately be beneficial in two ways: (1) the goodwill that's created and (2) the personal satisfaction of knowing that a positive impact was made.
Third, feeling gratitude on a regular basis and devoting time to thinking about and expressing that gratitude is a fruitful use of time.
If these three premises are sound, trust is a valuable concept and worth discussing.
Does it mean that people won't let each other down? No.
However, if relationships, helping others, and feeling gratitude is important, then the acceptance of people as imperfect is possible and so is trust. Most people are just trying to manage their lives and find inner peace in an increasingly complex world. They will appreciate you trusting them as well as doing the work to earn their trust.
The challenge is to use trust as a way to contribute to making the world a better place and improving the lives of people around you. And I trust that we will.
Organizational Behavior | Training & Development | Leadership | Student Development | Enrollment Management
3 年Thank you, Tim, for sharing your thoughts. Although the entire article is thought-provoking, the following statement got me thinking: "However, if relationships, helping others, and feeling gratitude is important, then the acceptance of people as imperfect is possible and so is trust." I am grateful that others, including my wife, accept me despite all of my imperfections. And, they also trust me. I deeply appreciate and value the trust they place in me, especially since I know I am quite fallible. In sum, trust is also act of faith in another person. It is necessary to first take a risk with that relationship without knowing the outcome.
Power of Promises and delivering on them - small and/or big
Director of Terry Sales Program University of Georgia | Sales Coach | Researcher
3 年Deep thoughts that make me so happy you are one I trust, Tim Butler!
Director, Kennesaw State University Center for Professional Selling
3 年Great read. I have found gratitude is a gift that’s comes from intentionally being still long enough to reflect on it…
Senior District Sales Manager - Boston (Dermatology), Professor of Effective Selling at Bentley University (theprofessorofsales.com), Co- Author “How the Best get Better at Sales”, YardRink, Keynote Sales Trainer
3 年Trust is the foundation on which any relationship is built, both personally and professionally.