How To Rebuild Trust

Here are some quick thoughts on ways to turn things around.

  • Determine the real reasons why trust has diminished. Is it a problem in your industry? Something that happened in your company such as layoffs? Or is it personal ? they don't trust you? Don't rush out and create a new program or incentive scheme until you know the nature of the problem.

  • Determine what the implications of lower trust are. What is missing as a result? Does customer service or quality suffer? Is loyalty lower?

  • Now you've got the data you need to begin to address the problem. Be wary of window-dressing solutions. Don't try to pump people up or paint over the problems. You'll just waste your money and will risk adding to the cynicism. The only way to rebuild trust is to focus on the level of trust you want and confront the real reasons why there is a gap between what you want and what you've got.

  • Trust is hard to build and easy to destroy, so you must be patient. Set long-term goals. Don't expect a single meeting or some grand event to turn things around. This situation is similar to a marriage in which one partner had an affair. It takes a long time to rebuild trust in the other person. In fact, they may never regain the level of trust they enjoyed prior to the affair.

Rick is an advisor to organizations on ways to lead Change without Migraines?. He is author of many books on change including Why Don't You Want What I Want? and Beyond the Wall of Resistance. You can access free articles and tools at http://www.beyondresistance.com.

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Problem-Solving Success Tip: Measure

Measure.The first key question to answer in starting a problem-solving... Read More

Regaining Control - Nine Steps for New Managers

My client had faced the same challenge, which was frustrating... Read More

The High, High Price of Distrust

A paper manufacturer with over 300 employees once announced that... Read More

How Can A Communications Audit Help You?

Organizations communicate in two directions: internally to staff and externally... Read More

Innovation Management: The Hype Cycle

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Using Outlook to Count Responses

Here's a productivity tip that will save you a lot... Read More

How Managers Can Help Retain Their Best Employees

A major problem for employers today is attracting the best... Read More

More Computer Consulting 101 Hiring Tips (Part 2 of 2)

Does your company need to retain the services of a... Read More

Great Employees = Passionate Consumers

Companies spend millions of dollars each year identifying their brand,... Read More

Managing Workplace Conflicts

Kinds of Workplace ConflictsLet's start by identifying where conflicts happen.... Read More

Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money!

Faulty information costs you money! Which of these popular business... Read More

Setting a Pitiful Example: Twenty-six Warnings to Heed *

TO: All Parents [and Employers and Managers]From: Your Child and/or... Read More

The Survey Feedback Process for Organizational Development and Change

THE PURPOSE OF SURVEY FEEDBACK:In globally competitive environments, organizations are... Read More

Why Businesses Fail - And What You Can Do About It!

Have you unintentionally set your business up for failure?No one... Read More

Feedback - Make it Descriptive

Have you ever heard yourself say to a team member... Read More

People Literacy

Every Manager has experienced the frustration of not understanding why... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Ideas for Everyday Training

This article relates to the Training competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More

ISO 9001, What Next?

The overriding goal of ISO-14000. (History 1995)As ISO-9000 becomes a... Read More

Hold Your Applause!

It's amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care... Read More

Enhancing the Motivational Climate of Your Workplace

It has been well documented that employees' productivity and job... Read More

Great Hires: Avoid Costly Mistakes

Picking people for a job is like going... Read More

Five Tips for Analyzing an Income Statement

In today's article, we'll be looking at the income statement,... Read More

A Tricky Supervision Challenge

Many managers believe that treating their team members as responsible... Read More

Three Business Lessons From The US Postal Service

There was a buzz in the air recently about the... Read More

The Three-Dimensional Communication System

Human communication is always three-dimensional. No spoken or written message... Read More

Discover the Astonishing Power of Words Today!

Picture all the people you know who are dynamic, successful... Read More

Choosing the Right Corporate Training

According to a Gallup Poll, 80 percent of employees said... Read More

CEOs And Boards Are Locked In A Spiral Of Doom

American CEOs are dropping like flies. Boards, armed with new... Read More

Innovation Management ? Eliciting Dominant Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Employers - Protect Yourself from Custody Battles that Hold Your Company Hostage

Child custody? How'd that get to be an employer's concern?When... Read More

Taking Care of Middle Manager Bounce Off

How many times have the management consultants been 'in' and... Read More

Dont Get Caught With Your PR Down

Why risk the embarassment when with a little basic PR... Read More

Print Buying Consultant

Ten Money Saving Tips for Print ManagersDespite their stated desire... Read More