Did you read Seth Godin’s blog post today? It’s called The Annual Plan Construction Set. It reminds me of the “artist” who chooses the “paint by numbers” option over a blank canvas. Companies opt for “safe” over “trust” more often than not. “Safe” should not be confused with safety. Safe is more like paint by numbers, quick and easy. Trust is the blank canvas, slower and more difficult. At the end of the day, “what the artist puts in is what he gets out” and trust trumps safe.
Some surefire clues that, like most, your company has chosen “safe.”
- The CEO makes an annual appearance at the holiday party only, because he/she spends most of the time putting out fires.
- The company credo is merely something written on a wall, but never discussed.
- The compliance/legal department is the largest, and EVERYTHING must be cleared.
- Innovation is nonexistent.
- Employee turnover is high and engagement is low.
- Decision-making is very slow.
Trust starts at the top. It’s risky because it takes time and is built in incremental steps. Sometimes a temporary dip in profitability occurs. But companies that build trust into their DNA are often those whose annual report does NOT scream “safe.” The pages are filled with candor because the CEO has the secret sauce that trumps competitors. The choice has been made to invest in trust, and it has paid off.
As Seth Godin says, “vague is safe, and no one ever got in trouble for failing to meet a vague plan.” What’s your leader’s plan? Trust or safe?
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 and the Executive Editor of TRUST! Magazine. In 2012 Barbara was named “One of 25 Women Changing the World” by Good Business International.
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