7 levels of company trust – where are you?

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.

Business Bitesize 7 levels of company trust - where are you?

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

Click here to access our Business Bitesize library that includes our downloadable “Trust Builds Business Tools and Resources” report.



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