I don’t care what you think unless it is about me. Kurt Cobain
The baggage we carry over from childhood impacts the odds of being trustworthy team members or leaders as adults.
Who can recall the elementary school classmates who insisted on being:
- First in line
- First to raise their hand (that was me)
- First at bat
- First piece of cake
- First to be picked for the team
- Last to share
Baby Boomers, those of us born between 1946 and 1964 are known as the “Me” generation, narcissism being our most prominent feature.
Many of us have carried our “Me first” perspective into adulthood, but unfortunately, this narcissistic, ego-driven attitude does not go very far in building trust. In fact, according to this study, narcissistic CEO’s do not make good leaders.
As I’ve said in previous blog posts, what many are calling a “crisis of trust,” I see as a crisis of leadership. If organizational trust is the goal, the “We first” leader must assume the helm from his “Me first” colleague.
Barbara Brooks Kimmel is the Executive Director of Trust Across America-Trust Around the World whose mission is to help organizations build trust. She is also the editor of the award winning TRUST INC. book series. In 2012 Barbara was named “One of 25 Women Changing the World” by Good Business International.
Nominations are now being accepted for Trust Across America-Trust Around the World’s 5th annual Global Top Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business.
Coming Soon!
Should you wish to communicate directly with Barbara, drop her a note at Barbara@trustacrossamerica.com
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