Trust Matters

 Trust Matters. 

Trust comes from being a part of a culture or organization with a common set of values and bleiefs. Trust is maintained when the values and beliefs are actively managed. If companies do not actively work to keep clarity, discipline, and consistency in line - then trust starts to break down. A company, indeed any organization, must work actively to remind everyone WHY the company exists. WHY it was founded in the first place. What it believes. They need to hold everyone in the company accountable to the values and guiding priciples. It's not enough to just write them on the wall - that's passive. Bonuses and incentives must revolve around them. The company must serve those whom they wish to serve it. 

With balance, those who are good fits can trust that everyone is on board for the same reasons. It's also the only way that each individual in the system can trust that others are acting to "leave the organization" in a better way then we found it. This is the root of passion. Passion comes from feeling like you are a part of something bigger than yourself. If people do not trust that a company is organized to advance the WHY, then the passion is diluted. Without managed trust, people will show up to do their jobs and they will worry primarily about themselves. This is the root of office politics- people acting within the system for self-gain often at the expense of others, even the company. If a company doesn't manage trust, then those working for it will not trust the company, and self-interest becomes the overwhelming motivation. This may be good for the short term, but over time the organization will get weaker and weaker. 

You must create an environment in which employees feel like the company cares about them and their success. Employees come first and if they are treated right, they treat the outside world right, and the outside world uses the company's product again. 

And then you want to find customers who share your beliefs and want to incorporate your ideas, your products and your services into their own lives as WHATs to their own WHYS. They look to WHAT you do as a tangible element that demonstrates their own purpose, cause or belief to the outside world. Their willingness to pay a premium or suffer inconvenience to use your product or service says more about them than it does about you and your products. Their ability to easy see WHY they need to incorporate your products into their lives makes this group the most loyal customers. They are also the most loyal shareholders and the most loyal employees. No matter where they sit in the spectrum, these are the people who not only love you but talk about you. 

Vision Deck 

Why does this company exist

Where is this company going

What are the values of this company

How does this company behave

How do we hire people

How do we fire people

How do we hold people to expectations

What are our goals

What are we focused on this year

What are we focused on this quarter

Who are the leaders in this company

Who are the people who make decisions

How does the company celebrate

How does the company improve

How does the company learn

What are our philosophies around things like pay, benefits, etc?