The Speed of Trust
Stephen M. R. Covey, Rebecca R. Merrill
20 min
7 Key Points
4.7 RateWhat's inside?
Discover the power of trust in relationships and learn how it can accelerate success in personal and professional life.
You'll learn
1. Why trust matters in your personal and work life2. Tips for earning trust and respect3. Traits of people and companies you can trust4. How trust affects business speed and costs5. Fixing trust issues: a how-to guide6. The link between trust, leadership, and teamwork.Key points
01Trust is a big deal! It can make or break anything in a snap. It's often overlooked, but it's super important
Trust, as explained by Stephen M. R. Covey and Rebecca R. Merrill, is a potent force that can make or break anything in a blink of an eye. Sounds a bit abstract, right? Let's simplify it. Think of trust as the base of a skyscraper. A sturdy base ensures the skyscraper stands tall and firm. But, if the base is shaky, the skyscraper can tumble down in no time. In the same way, trust is the bedrock of all relationships, whether personal or professional. When trust is solid, relationships thrive. But when trust is shattered, relationships can fall apart quickly. Covey and Merrill suggest that every breach of trust creates a ripple effect. Picture tossing a pebble into a pond. The splash of the pebble creates ripples that spread out, touching every part of the pond. Similarly, when trust is broken, it doesn't just impact the immediate relationship. It creates a ripple effect, spreading suspicion and doubt, and affecting other relationships too. The authors further break down trust into five levels, or as they call it, waves. These waves are: 1. Self Trust: This is the bedrock of all trust. It's about being honest with yourself, keeping your promises, and acting with integrity. If you can't trust yourself, it's hard for others to trust you. 2. Relationship Trust: This is about building trust in one-on-one relationships. It involves being dependable, truthful, and open with others. 3. Organizational Trust: This is about fostering a trust culture within an organization. It involves leaders acting with integrity and transparency, and employees feeling valued and respected. 4. Market Trust: This is about earning trust from customers and clients. It involves delivering on promises, providing quality products or services, and treating customers with respect. 5. Societal Trust: This is about making a positive impact on society. It involves acting ethically and responsibly, and being a good corporate citizen. Covey and Merrill believe that these waves of trust are interconnected and flow from the inside out. That is, trust starts with self-trust and then ripples out to relationship trust, organizational trust, market trust, and societal trust. To sum up, trust is a potent force that can make or break anything in a blink of an eye. It operates on multiple levels and has a ripple effect, impacting not just the immediate relationship but also other relationships. Hence, it's vital to build and maintain trust at all levels.
02The first wave of trust is all about believing in yourself. It's about setting goals and smashing them. When you trust yourself, you can do anything!
Let's dive into the concept of trust, starting with the first wave, "Self Trust." This is the bedrock of all trust, and it's built on how much others believe in us, based on our past actions. This belief in us is what we call credibility. There are four main ingredients that make up our credibility: Intent, Capabilities, Integrity, and Results. 1. Intent: This is all about our motives and the actions that follow. It's the 'why' behind what we do. When our intentions are clear and positive, it boosts our credibility. 2. Capabilities: These are the skills and talents we possess that make others believe in us. When we show we're capable, people are more likely to trust us. 3. Integrity: This is about being honest and true to our values. When we act with integrity, it builds our credibility. 4. Results: This is about our track record and our ability to get things done. When we consistently deliver results, it strengthens our credibility. Let's put this into perspective. Imagine making a New Year resolution. Statistics show that only 8% of Americans stick to their resolutions, even though 50% make them. When we fail to keep promises to ourselves, it chips away at our self-confidence and self-trust. If we can't trust ourselves to keep our own promises, how can we expect others to trust us? This principle applies everywhere, even at work. If a manager consistently breaks promises, it gradually erodes their credibility with their team. This lack of trust can have a big impact on how the team functions. Think of these four ingredients of credibility as parts of a tree. Integrity is the root, hidden but vital. Intent is the trunk, visible and providing structure. Capabilities are the branches, reaching out and enabling us to produce. Results are the fruits, the visible outcomes that others can see and judge. So, building self-trust means working on these four ingredients. It's about keeping promises to ourselves, being clear about our intentions, honing our skills, acting with integrity, and delivering results. As we boost our credibility, we increase the trust others have in us, leading to greater success in all areas of our life.
Continue reading with LeapAhead app
Full summary is waiting for you in the app
03The second wave is about building trust with others. It's about being reliable, honest, and respectful. It's hard work, but it's worth it for strong relationships
04The third wave is about trust in groups like teams, businesses, or families. Leaders need to set a good example and promote open communication. This kind of trust can lead to success
05The fourth wave is about trust in brands. It's about how customers feel about a company. Companies can build this trust by being honest, delivering on promises, and treating customers well
06The fifth wave is about giving back to society. It's about showing that you care about others and acting responsibly. This kind of trust can lead to a better reputation and stronger community ties
07Conclusion
About Stephen M. R. Covey, Rebecca R. Merrill
Stephen M. R. Covey is a renowned speaker and author, known for his expertise in trust, leadership, and culture. Rebecca R. Merrill is a professional writer and editor, who has co-authored several successful books, specializing in business and personal effectiveness.
