Newsletter
May 2007

"It takes 20 years to build your reputation and five minutes to ruin it."
Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway

Building a reputation of trust in our daily lives is more important then ever in this era of constant change. The need for quickness and seamless integration, bottom-line "speed," in our organizations has its affect on our productivity, success and global influence. If we are not careful, there are very real repercussions (both personal and professional) that a lack of trust will bring.

On an individual level this can seem like a daunting task, but the reality is, it simply needs to start with each one of us.

What is trust?

• Trust is character and competence.
• Trust encompasses who you are, your strengths and the results you produce.
• Trust affects peace and harmony in the home.
• Trust affects speed and costs to organizations.
• Trust is not soft or easy.
• Trust is definable and measurable.
• Trust involves risk.
• Trust built with one person actually builds trust with many.
• Trust can be taught and learned.

I recently attended a workshop/training with the Covey Link organization where the main topic presented was: Trust: Character and Competence. Both pillars, character and competence, were presented as the foundation for the "four key areas of credibility," which consist of Integrity, Intent, Capabilities and Results.

Character

Integrity - Who we really are. Congruency to values, beliefs and behaviors. Deep honesty. Humility and courage.
Intent - Genuine concern and caring for others. Our fundamental motive or agenda. Seeking mutual benefit. Acting with a persons best interest.

Competence

Capabilities –The capacities we have that inspire confidence. Our abilities to produce and accomplish. TASKS: Talents, Attitudes, Skills, Knowledge and Style.

Results – Our track record – past and present. Getting the right things done. Accomplishing the desired objectives.

This core is formed daily by the seemingly small choices we make, our interactions with others above and below us, and the sometimes daily "learning mistakes" that we must surrender to for the development of character and competence. Our "behaviors," how we act and react, display our level of trust on the big screen for all to see and experience.

"Like the natural laws of gravity and thermodynamics, there are principles of life that affect our decisions and relationships. Character is the summation of those principles into positive personal attributes, which are obtainable and can be developed.

Technology advances, information expands, and the world changes but the building blocks for producing effective individuals, families, communities, and an ethical marketplace -- "character qualities" -- do not change."
Zig Ziglar

Character comes from within, and how you develop it is critical to your success in life.
Character is defined by your integrity, your motive and your intent; basically, who you are when no one else is looking.

Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway said, "I look for three things when hiring people. The first is personal integrity, the second is intelligence, and the third is a high energy level. But, if you don't have the first, the other two will kill you."

Most of us think of integrity as honesty. In a person of character there is no gap between what their intent is and what their behavior is. These are people who "walk their talk".....and are not driven by the influences of others. They are strong, solid and dependable in how they react and treat those around them.

There is also a definite amount of humility and courage in trust as people of integrity are more concerned with what is right than being right. Martin Luther King, Jr., said it well, "The time is always right to do what is right."

Below are self-assessment questions from the Speed of Trust by author Stephen M.R. Covey to help you review your current level of integrity.

• Do I genuinely try to be honest in all my interactions with others?
• Do I typically walk my talk?
• Am I clear on my values? Do I feel comfortable in standing up for them?
• Am I open to the possibility of learning new truths that may cause me to rethink issues or even redefine my values?
• Am I able to consistently make and keep commitments to myself?

"How you behave with one family member is noticed by other family members. How you behave with your reports is discussed with other reports. How you interact with one client is observed by other clients....."
Stephen M.R. Covey

Let's work at increasing our level of trust, and thus our character and competence!
Lindsay
Windridge Consulting
425-697-2700

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After attending and completing the Speed of Trust workshop and certification process through Covey Link I went into the workshop with three main objectives:

1. To gain insights that will help me both personally and professionally.
2. To gather understanding of "organizational trust issues" so that I can better help my clients develop trust within their current situations.
3. To partner with Covey Link in bringing this highly individualized workshop into organizations.

If you have any questions or interest in what this highly individualized "Speed of Trust" workshop can bring into your organization, please give me a call!

lindsay@windridgeconsulting.com • Windridge Consulting LLC

After attending and completing the Speed of Trust workshop and certification process through Covey Link I went into the workshop with three main objectives:

1. To gain insights that will help me both personally and professionally.
2. To gather understanding of "organizational trust issues" so that I can better help my clients develop trust within their current situations.
3. To partner with Covey Link in bringing this highly individualized workshop into organizations.

If you have any questions or interest in what this highly individualized "Speed of Trust" workshop can bring into your organization, please give me a call!

lindsay@windridgeconsulting.com • Windridge Consulting LLC