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A New Take on Trust
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I originally posted this in June 2007 but it still holds true today.
What do managers do? That's a pretty broad question so let's take me for an example. I am a manager, what do I do? Well, when my daughter asked me that very question a few months ago, I started to think and came up with this, an example of my typical day. But that is not the whole story.
When I returned to work on Friday after spending the week away on business, I spent the first 1 1/2 hours at my desk doing one thing over and over and over again. No, I was not banging my head on the desk but close :). Sometime between Friday and today, I realized that I didn't mention this task in my recap of a typical day. How could I have left it off? What was I thinking?
Well, it can be a seemingly small task and something done routinely and often without thought. However, it really is much more than that. This is a task fraught with responsibility, accountability, and more. The first few times it was ceremonial, it was exciting and yes, I was young and naive. The novelty wore off rather quickly and now it has turned into something else. Let's just say that when I go down, it is going to be because of this task. When I go down, it is going to be for something that I signed. Yes, the thing that takes me down will have my name all over it. My signature will be my downfall.
I sign because that's what manager's do. Research your action, do the leg work, get the facts straight and when I ask, be prepared to answer with information not emotion. Yes, at times I absolutely do have to see everything in writing. Tip: DO NOT respond, "well you signed it" when asked about an action. This is about as non-recoverable as it gets for me.
I sign without much question or fanfare. Why? Because I trust you. Don't take that lightly. I don't.
Photo credit iStockphoto
Reader Comments (3)
Those dotted eyes and crossed tees mean that I have given my best effort to ensure the quality of the result. Now that you have me thinking of it, I still and always live the learned Air Force core values of, Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
I go back to work on Monday, (off on a weeklong patriotic pilgrimmage). My task backups never sign their documentation. It will be reviewed, questioned, challenged and validated before my endorsement of trust is applied.
Great topic - always great topics.
Again, like you said, this is an issue of accountability and being able to trace who did what. Because of this, I'm in the habit of initialing something I read, initialing what I write (with date). A good habit to be in.
Great post and the understated importance of a signature is very powerful.
As managers we give our trust to others every day, we have to, otherwise the work wouldn't get done.
Sometimes we need to spell out to others: "I trust you, don't f@ck with that!"
Your post reminds me to reinforce this ... tomorrow!