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Increase trust, reduce fear

“The most critical challenge for any organization is to enlarge the circle of trust.”

Command-and-control systems reflect a deep mistrust of employees’ commitment and competence. They also tend to overemphasize sanctions as a way of forcing compliance. That’s why so many organizations are filled with anxious employees who are hesitant to take the initiative or trust their own judgment. Organizational adaptability, innovation, and employee engagement can only thrive in a high-trust, low-fear culture. In such an environment, information is widely shared, contentious opinions are freely expressed, and risk taking is encouraged. Fear paralyzes, mistrust demoralizes—they must be wrung out of our management systems.

124 Stories
236 Hacks
22 Barriers

Increase trust, reduce fear

“The most critical challenge for any organization is to enlarge the circle of trust.”

Command-and-control systems reflect a deep mistrust of employees’ commitment and competence. They also tend to overemphasize sanctions as a way of forcing compliance. That’s why so many organizations are filled with anxious employees who are hesitant to take the initiative or trust their own judgment. Organizational adaptability, innovation, and employee engagement can only thrive in a high-trust, low-fear culture. In such an environment, information is widely shared, contentious opinions are freely expressed, and risk taking is encouraged. Fear paralyzes, mistrust demoralizes—they must be wrung out of our management systems.

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How do you make a big company’s culture more innovative and entrepreneurial? Start with a corridor and work your way out.
Story by Christos Tsolkas on February 11, 2016
The internet has had a profound effect on many areas of commerce.One area the internet has not yet had a profound affect upon is how people are organized to perform work.We believe this is about to ch
Story by Jim McKeown on April 11, 2010
A harmonious workplace is critical in today’s work place .A First Line Manager must be a keen observer of behavior in their department.
Story by Jim McGriff, Jr. on October 22, 2016
Embracing the principles of Autonomy & Trust and Openess & Transparency, this hack aims to establish the credibility and value of HR as a business partner by adapting the language and measurem
Hack by Harrison Withers on July 17, 2013
Ever get an innovation project rolling along well and then bump into a hidden corporate policy or procedure that stops the project dead in its tracks?
Hack by Mary Kuhr Anderson on August 14, 2017
Implement a leadership development programme in which the employees of an organisation are exposed to the challenges faced by their CEO for a day
Hack by Prince Goel on March 20, 2011
The organization as we know it is changing rapidly. Right now, traditional hierarchical organizations are becoming more social, open, transparent, inclusive, diverse... the list can go on!
Hack by Stephen Remedios on December 5, 2013
Too often leaders think trust should flow one way: toward them. Instead, leaders should demonstrate trust in their coworkers first.
Hack by Gary Cohen on October 15, 2010
Measure the attitudes of your stakeholders in surveys. Link their scores to financial performance using factor analysis and structural equations.
Hack by Anders Magnusson on May 26, 2010
José may be a typical Latin name, but in this story of a Mexican doing business in Brazil is not a very common one. For one thing he chose to strive in an Emergent Economy.
Story by Volney Faustini on September 21, 2010

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