I have been following a few conversations regarding trust in an organization – how to instill it, maintain it, and how important is it?  I am of the mindset that I can deal with anything, as long as I know what it is I’m dealing with.  I highly value someone being “straight” with me, even if it is something I don’t want to hear.  Actually, ESPECIALLY if it is something I don’t want to hear.  It has to be hard though, for the person who has to relay messages from higher ups, to create and build that trust within a company.  How can you be trustworthy when the message you are delivering is not necessarily your own?  Also, you may not have a say in how much information is distributed.  Your job may be to provide certain pieces of information while withholding others and that is not conducive to trust.

In order to get trust you have to give it, and while you may be privy to certain things that are going to affect your coworkers, you may be required to keep these details to yourself.  How is it possible to have both – do your job the way you are supposed to but still work with a team that trusts you and what you say?   As an employee, I think it is possibly the most important part of a fulfilling career.  In my opinion, an environment of honesty has a wonderful domino affect.  Believing in your boss allows you the opportunity to show the same to your employees.  This instills loyalty, hard work, and a strong work ethic.  This is all assuming I am not in the minority in appreciating the truth, whether good or bad. 

Is trust that important?  Are there genuine benefits to focusing on this in an organization or is our society too skeptical and cynical at this point for it to matter?