Explore The Role Of Trust

by James Canada

Trust is an open, honest relationship between two people who can rely on the character, the communications, and the capabilities of each other. Trust is instinctive, reciprocal, and contagious. It allows freedom and enriches experiences. If trust is lost from the workplace, can it ever be restored? Trust has a highly significant role in all work environments, and it is not at all easy to restore trust once it has been lost.

Without trust we waste needless time wondering what the other person is doing to counter our progress or set us up for failure in some way. Some people worry about others pulling their share of the workload or taking care of the finances. Trusting in your partners or employees frees you up mentally to get your own tasks done.

When trust is high, people and systems function well. A high level of trust will heighten the creative processes because feeling and thinking are more focused and energized, people act more directly, consciousness is awakened, and new abilities are discovered. In the corporate world, I worked on a number of teams as well as having a large organization report to me. It was always important to have a direction and a vision of what you want to accomplish. Asking the members of a team for feedback and supporting their ideas goes a long way in creating trust. Supporting the team, and providing the tools to help them be successful, removes roadblocks and encourages creativity.

The same can be true for an entrepreneur. It is actually even more important to help your small team succeed because if they do, you succeed as well. Building trust with your small team truly energizes them to go beyond your expectations.

James H. Canada is managing partner/CEO for Alliance Technologies LLC, ITEN mentor and author of “Corporate to Entrepreneur: Strategies for Success.” Contact Jim at james.canada@alliancetechnologiesllc.com, 636-734-2337 or www.alliancetechnologiesllc.com.