Belief as a strong software to drive change
Jump off a high dive. Get behind the wheel for the first time. Make your first speech in front of a large crowd.
When you look back on some of the scariest things you've done in life, the odds are one big reason you accomplished them: Confidence. Perhaps a parent stood by your side to reassure you that jumping off this sky-high stepping stone would actually be good for you, that you are fine, and that you have their support. In other cases, it may have been a friend, spouse, or colleague who guided and encouraged you. The confidence you had in this person gave you the courage to take the plunge or just follow their example.
Trust is an important driver for all of us, and unfortunately it is in short supply today. The Edelman Trust Barometer 2021, The annual global trust and credibility survey found that public trust in government, non-governmental organizations and the media had continued to decline over the past year. More than half of respondents worldwide said they believe government and business leaders are deliberately misleading with lies and misinformation.
Trust in companies that are higher than other institutions
However, there was a ray of hope for business leaders. The study found that most people today rely primarily on their employers for accurate information and trust companies vis-à-vis government and the media. It is noteworthy that employees have specifically identified their own companies as the primary source of trustworthy information. (Impetus for communicators: Here's the proof that internal communication really matters!)
Interestingly, respondents also sought more from their CEOs. More than 8 in 10 respondents expect CEOs to speak publicly on societal challenges such as the impact of the pandemic, job automation, societal issues, and local community issues. 68 percent would like CEOs to intervene if the government doesn't solve societal problems. and 65 percent want CEOs to be accountable to the public as much as they are to shareholders.
Trust is one of the The best levers executives have when driving real change in their organization. This free e-book provides practical, strategic answers on how leaders and companies can become more trustworthy and lead to better business results. Click here to get started.
Here is a snapshot of how companies are currently running other institutions when it comes to trust and the information they are providing:
Percent confidence in:
- My employer: 76%
- Business (general): 61%
- Non-governmental organizations: 57%
- Government: 53%
- Media: 51%
Percent who automatically believe information from any source, or twice or less:
- My employer (newsletter / publications of my company): 61%
- National government: 58%
- Media reports, named sources: 57%
- Large Enterprises: 52%
- Advertising: 46%
- My social media: 39%
Employees who look to their leaders to improve
The message seems clear: business leaders are urged to be courageous and open on important issues, well beyond the confines of the organizations in which they operate. Increasingly, people are looking for leaders to fill the huge void that politics fails to meet Leaders who create trust – and inspiration.
I've already seen this type of inspired leadership work well in this tumultuous time. Executives I've worked with who have stepped out of their comfort zones to have honest and honest conversations about how the company is doing and the challenges they face have responded positively to the employees. Even if some of the messages were hard to hear, employees appreciated that their leaders shared what they could, when they could. They also valued the vulnerability and honesty of their leaders. They greeted key messages with the words "I just don't know yet" or "There is no playbook to deal with this pandemic and I hope we can work on it together."
I've always believed in the importance of trust for leaders, but I am even more convinced of its power today. Especially in times of intense challenges and disruptions for business, trust is one of the best levers managers have to drive real change and make a difference. If your team trusts and believes in you, they will move mountains for you. On the other hand, when trust wanes – as we have seen in our politics, government and in many social institutions over the past year – organizations and institutions struggle to find their place and cannot achieve anything, let alone drive positive change.
If you are looking for hope and inspiration as a leader today, I believe that it lies in the fact that people – even more so than the government or other institutions – are waiting for you to boldly lead and earn their trust in this difficult time .
What lessons do you think leaders are missing when trying to build trust in their organizations? What is the “secret sauce” for you personally to build trust in times of crisis?
– –David Grossman
Find out how building more trust in your company will help drive change and lead to better business results. Click the image below to download your free copy of the eBook today – 7 Key Traits for Building Business Trust!
