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Lake Tahoe at Incline Village, NV by Jennifer M. White
Why is it so hard to talk about the tough stuff in our organizations? Why is it that I see leaders constantly painting a rainbow picture of their leadership and organizations when it’s more like a toxic waste dump?
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An Afternoon at the Beach by Marya Wilson
I have had some very insightful conversations the last week about procedures as contracts. I define procedures as anything your organization uses to guide the organizational processes. Some organizations define them as policies, SOP’s, procedures, etc. Some talked about how procedures are boring. This was one was my favorite because they weren’t wrong, sometimes procedures are boring, but oh so necessary.
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Longboat Key, FL by Steve Sheppard
Well, after the last few weeks of maneuvering poor processes, I am going to update my quality management course for the fall semester. Whew! I appreciate the frustration level though because it has helped me think deeper about one of the themes my partner and I keep coming across in our research on organizational exit, betrayal of trust.
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Montana Mountains: Peace and Courage by Julie Furst-Bowe
I was having a conversation with a fantastic colleague (and friend!) recently. I was incredibly frustrated with a string of events that were creating some serious problems for a project I am working on. My colleague listened without judgment and helped me look at all sides of the situation and try to approach it from a more positive perspective. I love her for that.
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Lake Menomin by Dan Riordan
Management decisions like this won’t always make sense to us, but if managers and administrators don’t explain their decisions, it is quite hard to trust that they have the best interest of their people or their organization at heart.
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Logan and Noah’s Island Kindess - Isla Mujeres, Mexico - by Evy Snyder
What a week! I had some incredible conversations with friends and colleagues who are so pumped about what they do and where they work. It was a delightful treat and made me hopeful and happy.
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Sunset in Santa Barbara by Marya Wilson
Psychological contracts are those unwritten agreements in how we will treat each other (at least the 30K foot definition). I fully believe this is the most important contract we can shake hands on.
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The North Sea by Marya Wilson
I’m back with a new energy, refreshed, new eyes. I’m ready to be a bigger risk taker. I’m ready to be even more vulnerable.
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North Sea at Moerdijk by Marya Wilson
I’ve gotten a little caught up in my trip, and I am loving it! I write this from Berlin this morning. This city is amazing. It is full of history, green space, and incredible people. I was journaling about the trip and had to laugh because this trip has truly been full of Griswold moments.
Read moreAs the semester winds down, this is usually crunch time. Most of us on campus are pulling our hair out, drinking coffee by the gallons, and grading papers by the billions (ok, an exaggeration, but it’s close). This semester is no different, except this last week was a blast.
Read moreThe research and writing I do focuses on the many aspects of trust. Trust is crucial to any relationship, personal or professional. I had a very fun week in that so many of the discussions I had revolved around the trusted leader, admired and appreciated.
Read moreWe commit to tasks through our words, and our actions speak louder than words. Building trust with others requires that others are willing to believe in and act on our words, actions, and decisions.
Read moreActions speak louder than words. All of us have this seared on our brain (I hope!). The funny thing is that statement is spot on. People need to believe and be willing to act upon our words, actions, and decisions. That is trust. Do what we say we are going to do is the start, but I believe it goes beyond keeping our word.
Read moreThe writing and research I do focuses on trust, being able to believe and act on other’s words, actions, and decisions. This week, I was in a meeting with a client and reminded with a 2x4 why my writing and research is so crucial. Trust is everything to the success of an organization.
Read moreThe research I do looks at the experiences and stories of people who experience organizational exit. My research partner and I want to understand why people feel “pushed” to leave their jobs and careers. Nearly every experience in our research involves some form of betrayal.
Read moreThis last week has been one surprise after another. A lot of surprises were not-so-fun, but even “not-so-fun” is adventurous. Bring it! The one surprise I appreciate the most is several of my clients talking about the human side of leadership.
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When I think about betrayal in the research sense, it’s clinical, scientific, and even fascinating. When I think about the betrayals I’ve experienced in my life, the word evokes strong emotions.
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Last week’s conversation sparked an insightful discussion with a dear friend about leaders and trust. He suggested that good leaders can be trusted. Those that don’t commit the time to developing trust with their followers truly aren’t leaders; they are only people in positions of legitimate authority or power.
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These stories were very personal and involved an array of minor to major betrayals of trust. It was an insightful and enlightening conversation, reminding us of just how deeply trust affects our relationships.
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