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The Reader to Leader Series – TRUST

A different perspective on Trust – What lens do you have on?

Chapter 2 from the Book: Smart Trust book by authors Stephen M.R Covey and Greg Link

Chapter Summary: Blind Trust or Distrust – Which Glasses are you wearing?  

The chapter starts with this quote “ we see the world not as it is, but as we are” – Dr Stephen R Covey.

Where do the glasses come from?

The chapter makes mention of glasses as a lens or perspective that people “see the world” . The glasses we have are created by inputs and environments such as family, experiences, what we choose to watch and read but we don’t even realise we are all wearing these glasses of “blind trust” being naïve or “ distrust “ suspicion”.

The chapter indicates that the lens and glasses we choose (through influences, input or environments) to view the world will influence the results we get.

Types of trust glasses:

In a low trust world, there are two types of trust models that don’t work for better results, they are “blind trust and distrust”.

Blind trust: “Lens of being naïve” – Believing almost everything and everyone, we want to trust so we even ignore the obvious signs and evidence. It may look like this: “ I never check anything; I assume it is true”.

Distrust: “Lens of being suspicious” – Suspicious of almost everything and everyone, due to being told not to trust or wounded experiences. It may look like this:” I investigate credibility and validate what people say.”

There is a cost of both trusting too much (blind trust) and not trusting enough (distrust) impacts the following areas:

  • relationships with people and collaboration
  • energy and joy levels,  
  • attracting talent, turnover of staff
  • alienation

The value of trust is explained by the authors as “ Without trust we do not truly collaborate; we merely co-ordinate or at best co-operate, it is trust that turns a group into a team”.

The glasses you wear are said to “magnify the evidence that fits your paradigm and filters the evidence that doesn’t”. Weigh up the risks of the lens by which we view the world.

Remember that you have the power to choose a new lens in any situation. We cannot change the whole world, but we can change our own view and lens of the world to create more meaningful days and better organisations.

Questions to reflect on:

  • What glasses am I wearing, and wear did I get them?
  • Are the glasses I am wearing creating the results of abundance and joy?
  • What are you magnifying?
  • How strong is your trust lens?

“ To trust is to risk and risks should be taken wisely. But to trust is to open up new worlds – Fernando Flores”.

THE INSIGHT

The glasses you wear, is how you view trust and questioning whether the glasses (lens) are creating the results you want. It is best first to understand how we see the world to change the quality of life and relationships to have more meaningful experiences.

THE MOVE

Start to examine your glasses and the lens you have on with regards to trust in relationships, decide if it is working for the results you want.

Thank you for reading. We encourage you to get the book or read more chapters on Smart Trust. View more about the book on here. For short book summaries go to Blinkist, it gives you the whole book in a few minutes.