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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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Catalytic leadership helped a Swedish CEOintroduce organic, self-organizing principles,which helped save the company and pavethe way for international success.Clearly, theguidelines presented are not
Story by Charles Ehin on April 3, 2013
Interviewing is at best a flawed effort to assess job candidates (and even consultants). Too often, it produces disappointing--even disastrous--results. Here's why....
Barrier by Dr. Janice Presser on August 3, 2010
Here’s a story how a small team tried to bring the best of both worlds together in a complex, corporate setup – effective processes and a humane environment that reaches deep into personal traits.&nbs
Story by Maciej Kaniowski on March 30, 2014
(this hack is available as a Powerpoint - see materials)In the last 40 years complexity thinking and sociology have given us new ways to understand uncertainty and the relationship between sc
Hack by Douglas Board on July 17, 2013
What if you could have strong ties of trust within your organization?  What if you didn’t miss opportunities to add value because you are always in the know?   Let’s put down our copies
Hack by Karl Kammerer on June 7, 2011

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