Why do we tolerate "untrustworthiness"?

Yes, untrustworthiness is a real word and is defined as, "the quality or state of being untrustworthy"... and untrustworthy means, "not able to be relied on as honest or truthful". 

Why do I bring this up? Let me tell you, and although some may think me naive please hear me out because eventually I will get to how it impacts optimizing your execution and getting things done.

The other day I mentioned in passing that I had an agreement with someone and immediately the question was, "Do you have it in writing?" To that I mentioned I had a letter of intent, and in shock she said,"You need a contract!" After offering some context to the situation, I then said, "I trust the person". It was something to behold as I watched the horror of what I said spread over her face... it was as if I had slapped a baby*; we changed the topic.

I understand that there is process, procedure, and complicated situations where clarity of language and interpretation is needed... I get the need for contracts. What struck me though was the extreme insistence that a contract was needed and all would be solved**. This is not the first time I have heard this type of thing, and it is as if there is a grand untrustworthiness that surrounds us which will all to be solved with a solid contract. 

It was not so long ago that the handshake or the raising of a glass was not simply a symbolic gesture but activities needed because someone may actually be trying to kill you. Maybe we are hardwired to assume that we are all simply untrustworthy and have to act accordingly, if only for survival's sake. The problem is that sustainable success in anything involves working with others, and with that comes our struggle to find trust.

It seems we need each other for our mutual success but innately don't trust anyone; the universe sure does have an interesting sense of humour. 

Maybe the response of "get a contract" is natural and ultimately the correct one but then again, she could have said, "Do you trust this person?" Our energy seems to be directed towards putting mechanisms in place to minimize "untrustworthiness", instead of maximizing trustworthiness; we are insidiously re-enforcing an underlying belief that unless there is some sort of document to hold a person accountable, being untrustworthy is alright. 

Where this is really problematic is with the small stuff, and that brings us to its impact on optimized execution and getting things done. Let me offer an example: 

Your team needs to get a project done... on time... on budget, and it has to "shine". You have a team where you -

• Trust that people will meet their deadlines, as you know things are usually all connected.
• Trust that if issues arise they will be communicated quickly and accurately.
• Trust that professionalism will trump any personal issues.
• Trust that people will raise their hand if they need help.
• Trust that there will be candid, open communication.
• Trust that "confidences" will not be compromised.
• Et cetera.

Knowing that the right skills are in place to support that trust, I would suspect you are confident that it will get done and with great fanfare.

Now if we started substituting out the word "trust" with "untrustworthy", how comfortable would you feel? Can you already envision the little problems growing into bigger problems, missed deadlines, apathy, and sub performance, as "untrustworthy" creeps in?

It is true that trust needs to be earned, but it also needs to be promoted, supported and recognized. Building trust is a mutual endeavor and may be very situational, but there are pillars that you can generally count on for support:

• Do what you say you will do.
• Take responsibility for your actions.
• Act with the best ethical and moral intensions.
• Be honest (and it will hurt sometimes).
• Offer up your experience.
• Communicate openly.
• Wholeheartedly support and foster trustworthiness.

There will always be a need to a good contract and I have a few of them myself, but when you look over at the person you work with every day, your teams, the entrepreneur you are looking to partner with, or the person you are thinking to bring on as a partner, the foundations for mutual success will not be build on a "tightly worded contract".

It will be built on the TRUST in each other, and the desire to get things done.

iamgpe 

www.gpestratagem.com 

* no babies were slapped in the making of this blog.

** I have also heard that a contract is as good as your lawyer... not sure where I heard it though.