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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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Taking the road less traveled requires experience not only of knowing the rewards of success but also understand the impact of failure.
Hack by Anupam Kahol on October 1, 2010
This is the story of an OD consulting firm founded in the Middle East.
Story by Marwa Farouq on September 30, 2010
Knowledge Management may have failed for empowerment and success but its effort is sustained today by the quest for autonomy linked to self-organization and self-drive.
Hack by Raj Kumar on September 28, 2010
 Look, we have to find lots of ways to help our organizations  -- sometimes one person or one team at a time -- move toward the future.
Hack by Dan Oestreich on September 21, 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
Get leaders truly working for their teams, rather than the other way around.
Hack by Leslie-Ann Bergstrom on September 21, 2010
Bring the classroom/school to work and make your colleagues your classmates. Hold "classes" at work where employees can enroll and learn together.
Hack by Akash Sah on September 21, 2010
We talk a lot about how important communication is.  Communication within our organizations is one of the easiest, most valuable tools we have, and we don't always find a way to use it properly.&
Story by Michelle Paitich on September 20, 2010
Remove the secrecy, fear, and mistrust that too frequently accompany organizational change. Use change to build morale rather than weaken it.
Hack by Leslie-Ann Bergstrom on September 20, 2010
The aging population in the Nordics/Western part of the world and the possibility for early retirement will cause competency gaps and will lead to loss of knowledge in Enterprises.
Barrier by Magdalena Pawlowicz on September 20, 2010

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