Trust and Commitment in Business: How to (or not)

Trust & Commitment

While everyone is praising trust and commitment in business, nobody has defined how to yet.

And I am talking about trust and commitment not only towards clients and external stakeholders, but also (and maybe mainly) for internal stakeholders and colleagues of every level.

It is praised! It is requested! It is presented as a demand in many cases! It is value!

Although trust is built by being truthful. By not hiding behind curtains. By being “there” whatever that means, any time, under any circumstances. It is relying on someone’s word and actions, without questioning nor doubting.

Commitment is different. It needs time. It requires consistency and stability. By default it depends on two parties, and demands mutual compatibility, firmness and reliability.

What do both have in common? They need time. You cannot prove yourself as trustworthy in a week or two. You cannot prove your commitment within a month. 

Most important: Both are a two way street. You give and you receive. You receive and you have to give back.

And there is a catch too. Trust and commitment are not measurable. 

There is no metrics for that. There is no forecast, no predictability, no visibility beforehand. 

On the other hand, it is way more valuable from most of the measurable hard and soft skills. 

Education is there ot can be obtained. The experience too. The appearance is visible. Professionalism is obvious. But trust? No. Commitment, of course not.

These are time consuming soft skills, not measured, and upon the individual’s ethos, values and principles.

What I want to say: Stop asking for it!

You can’t tell if it is there and you can’t prove it isn’t.

What you can do is give your best part in a collaborative relationship and wish for the best.

You can also define what do you mean by trust. You mean trust you to run my company? Trust you a business competitive advantage and not share it Trust that I will assign a mission/project for you to deliver? Trust that you will be beside me when the business faces a challenge?

Accordingly, commit that you will be in the organization for the next 10 years? Commit that you will deliver what was assigned to you? Commitment to defend the face of the business? Or commit that you will tolerate bad behavior?

So, stop asking for it and define the terms from your view.

Oh! You can do also something more, striking, not business advisable, and radical: 

Trust your guts!

Another soft skill coming from experience.

Have a great day everyone.