Trust Me?
A quick word first
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How to build—and repair—trust at work
I just came across an intriguing video on trust in Harvard Business Review’s Ascend series.
In this one, host Christine Liu talks with L.S.U. Professor Tyree Mitchell, whose research focuses on trust-building within teams.
I especially like Mitchell’s suggestion that when starting projects, the first step should be creating a team “charter.” It’s a joint process for confirming the goal and outlining what needs to be done to accomplish it. It also establishes norms for interacting going forward.
For building trust more generally, Mitchell recommends:
1. Avoid making commitments you may not be able to keep. Don’t over-promise and under-deliver.
2. Anybody can slip up. Own your mistakes.
3. Act benevolently. Take actions that may not be in your own immediate interest.
Christine and Tyree cover all this and more in a mere six minutes. Check it out.
PS: A personal story about leading by example
Fifty-five years ago, this past April, I saw this headline on the front page of the Boston Record-American.
The so-called “Bride” is my cousin Roberta Gibb (Bobbi-Lou to us). We’ve known each other since we were toddlers.
As the first woman to run a marathon, Bobbi-Lou shattered stereotypes, opened doors for women in sports and many other endeavors. (And in that 1966 race, she finished ahead of more than two-thirds of the male runners).
Bobbi-Lou continues to run every day, though not competitively. And she pursues her other interests just as avidly—among them, medical research, writing, law, and art. Earlier this week a statue in her honor was unveiled. It will be installed near the spot where she began her historic run.
That’s Bobbi-Lou next to statue, along with two younger generations of fans. And oh, by the way, multi-talented Bobbi created the sculpture.
Since her inaugural run in 1966, a quarter million women have followed Bobbi-Lou’s footsteps from Hopkinton to Copley Square. Thousands more will join that throng on Monday, October 11, for the 125th Boston Marathon.
Our family is so proud of her.