15 Feb 7 levels of company trust – where are you?
To help you define and measure the impact of the trust levels at play in your organisation, have a look at which of these 7 levels best reflect where you are. You may prefer to isolate a particular team or project.
Using this brilliant signposting tool from Stephen M.R. Covey’s insightful book, The Speed of Trust, will enable you to identify how much more effective you and your team could be if you grew together.
As Covey suggests:
(S x E) T = R
STRATEGY multiplied by EXECUTION multiplied by TRUST delivers the RESULTS you get.
If you’re experiencing mistrust – levels 1 to 4 below – then your results will never match the goals you have for your business.
Build, maintain or restore it so that you experience levels 5 and 6 and you will be more successful. Feels like common sense, don’t you think?
Click this link to a very short video from the author Stephen M.R. Covey about this multiplier effect.
|
1. NONEXISTENT TRUST – 80% trust minus (tax) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
Dysfunctional environment and toxic culture (open warfare, sabotage, grievances, lawsuits, criminal behavior) |
Dysfunctional relationships |
|
Militant stakeholders |
Hot, angry confrontations or cold, bitter withdrawal |
|
Intense micromanagement |
Defensive posturing and legal positioning (“I’ll see you in court!”) |
|
Redundant hierarchy |
Labeling of others as enemies or allies |
|
Punishing systems and structures |
Verbal, emotional, and/or physical abuse |
|
2. VERY LOW TRUST – 60% trust minus (tax) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
Unhealthy working environment |
Hostile behaviors (yelling, blaming, accusing, name-calling) followed by periods of brief contrition |
|
Unhappy employees and stakeholders |
Guarded communication |
|
Intense political atmosphere with clear camps and parties |
Constant worrying and suspicion |
|
Excessive time wasted defending positions and decisions |
Mistakes remembered and used as weapons |
|
Painful micromanagement and bureaucracy |
Real issues not surfaced or dealt with effectively |
|
3. LOW TRUST – 40% trust tax (minus) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
Hidden agendas |
Energy draining and joyless interactions |
|
Militant stakeholders |
Evidence gathering of other party’s weaknesses and mistakes |
|
Political camps with allies and enemies |
Doubt about others’ reliability or commitment |
|
Many dissatisfied employees and stakeholders |
Hidden agendas |
|
Bureaucracy and redundancy in systems and structures |
Guarded (often grudging) dispersing of information |
|
4. SOME TRUST ISSUES – 20% trust tax (minus) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
Some bureaucratic rules and procedures |
Regular misunderstandings |
|
Unnecessary hierarchy |
Concerns about intent and motive |
|
Slow approvals |
Interactions characterized by tension |
|
Misaligned systems and structures |
Communications colored by fear, uncertainty, doubt and worry |
|
Some dissatisfied employees and stakeholders |
Energy spent in maintaining (instead of growing) relationship |
|
5. TRUST IS NOT AN ISSUE – no tax – no dividend (neutral) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
Healthy workplace |
Polite, cordial, healthy communications |
|
Good communication |
A focus on working together smoothly and efficiently |
|
Aligned systems and structures |
Mutual tolerance and acceptance |
|
Few office politics |
No worries |
|
6. TRUST IS A VISIBLE ASSET – 20% trust dividend (plus) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
The focus is on work |
Cooperative, close, vibrant relationships |
|
Effective collaboration and execution |
A focus on looking for and leveraging one another’s strengths |
|
Positive partnering relationships with employees and stakeholders |
Uplifting and positive communication |
|
Helpful systems and structures |
Mistakes seen as learning opportunities and quickly forgiven |
|
Strong creativity and innovation |
Positive energy and positive people |
|
7. WORLD CLASS TRUST – 40% trust dividend (plus) |
|
|---|---|
|
In the organisation |
In personal relationships |
|
High collaboration and partnering |
True joy in family and friendships, characterized by caring and love |
|
Effortless communication |
Free, effortless communication |
|
Positive, transparent relationships with employees and all stakeholders |
Inspiring work done together and characterized by purpose, creativity, and excitement |
|
Fully aligned systems and structures |
Completely open, transparent relationships |
|
Strong innovation, engagement, confidence and loyalty |
Amazing energy created by relationship |
Adapted from Stephen M. R. Covey – The Speed of Trust