Your Reservoir of Trust

A problem is going to arise and your leadership will be needed.

And people are going to need to trust you.

Will they?

How deep is your reservoir of trust?

At this moment, you better hope your reservoir is very full – especially if it is a big problem you are facing.  But there is nothing you can do now to add to it.  Building your reservoir of trust takes time.

How do you build up trust between yourself and others?

You can start by being always respectful of others and honest with them. These two things go a long way and they are, unfortunately, in short supply with a lot of people.

Honesty is more than not telling blatant lies.  It is about being open, talking straight, having candor.  Don’t “spin” or speak vaguely so others can make up interpretations of what you mean.  Especially if you have bad news – give it straight without “sugar coating.” 

You want to be someone that others can count on for the truth.

Take care in making ethical decisions.  Let people know that is your intent when you face an ethical dilemma and ask for input.  Make the best decision you can and communicate openly about it.

All of these things can help build your reservoir of trust.  It’s the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.  Someday, you are going to need people to believe that they can count on you.  You can start today by giving them reasons to think that is so.

For more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your organization, follow this blog and check out my web site at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com   You will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough Strategy Workbook that you can download at no cost.  You can also check out my book, Mission Impact:  Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested.  And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.

What Change Should You Lead?

If you could change one thing in your organization that would make a REAL difference in the IMPACT you make, what would it be?

What do you have to lose by giving it a try???

Start by sharing your thoughts with a few people you trust to test your idea.  If others agree then get more people on board.  And then – when the timing is right – broaden your movement to more people.

The timing is not always right and sometimes it takes years of persistence to make a big change.  That is the story of Carmen Medina as told in the book she co-authored with Lois Kelly, Rebels at Work.  

Carmen had big ideas of changes she wanted to make at the CIA regarding the way information was shared.  But, especially as a Puerto Rican woman, her ideas were rebuffed.  She persevered over years, though, and made it happen.  She was a leader in creating Intellipedia – an “internal Wikipedia for intelligence agencies to share knowledge.”

How can you be sure your idea is a change you “should” lead?  It is hard to know.  This is why many years ago, renowned theologian Reinhold Neibuhr wrote this famous prayer:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things that I cannot change

Courage to change things that I can

And Wisdom to know the difference

May you have Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom as you lead change for enhanced Mission Impact.

For more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your organization, follow this blog and check out my web site at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com   You will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough Strategy Workbook that you can download at no cost.  You can also check out my book, Mission Impact:  Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested.  And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.