Sunday, April 9, 2017

Trust affects us all

A statement from White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer cited, in their first meeting, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping  discussed an array of topics which included North Korea. For years, the United States and the international community have tried to negotiate an end to North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, but North Korea has repeatedly cheated on its commitments.

Trust can accelerate and mistrust can destroy any team, family, relationship. No matter who we are and what our role is, trust affects our influence and success. Influence is not the power to make people do things. Influence only comes through credibility - the extent to which people know you, believe you, trust you and respect you.

As a leader I never tell the team anything that I don't absolutely believe myself. I always tell them the truth.

Likewise, when building team, I embrace the principle set by John Wooden: "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player." No matter how productive or competent a team member can be, if that person is not trustworthy - which means no hidden meanings, no dealing in the shadows, no backstabbing -  that person has no place on my team.  

Most people consider themselves to be honest people. Criminal psychologists speak about criminals who actually convince themselves that they didn't commit the crime. People deceive themselves at different times and in varying degrees. They do it sometimes out of convenience and sometimes out of cowardice.

In this hyper-competitive world, we all want to win, but we can win well. We can win without losing out souls.


 

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