Author: dhorsager

Mistrust: Russia’s Meteor Explanation | Trust in Government

20 February 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: Building Trust, Trust in Government

On February 15, a meteor came sputtering into earth and just happened to explode over Russia. Many Russians used this event as a means to spew ideas that were less than trustworthy. Leonid Bershidsky gives reasons why government scepticism can decrease trust and how Russia’s ”mistrust becomes an important strategic resource for social survival, success and upward mobility.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-19/russian-meteor-kicks-up-cloud-of-mistrust.html

 

-AR

Bloomberg, Trust in government, Russia, Skepticism, Mistrust

DMA: Difference-Making Actions | Clarity

19 February 2013
dhorsager
1 Comment
Categories: 8 Pillars, Building Trust, Clarity, David Horsager, Leadership Tips

Clarity is having vision and purpose, communicating expectations and giving focus to daily actionable tasks. Difference-Making Actions is a method for having and keeping daily clarity. 

DMA Strategy:

  1. First thing every morning, take a sticky note.
  2. At the top write your most important current goal.
  3. Then write the numbers 1-5 down the page.
  4. Next to the 1, write the most important thing you could do today to accomplish that goal. Then write the next most important things under 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  5. You now have a list of the 5 most important things you could do today that would make the biggest difference in accomplishing your goal and fulfilling your organization’s mission. 

Focused: DMA’s are the most important actions for the day–you shouldn’t have more than five.

Clear and Quantifiable: The focus here is on activites, not outcomes, so know exactly what you are going to do. 

Realistic: Your DMAs will not be effective if you can’t actually do them. 

-AR

DMAs, Clarity, The Trust Edge, David Horsager, Building Trust

Business Model Generation | Clarity

12 February 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: Building Trust, Business Trust, Clarity, Leadership Tips

In the book Business Model Generation , Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur share effective solutions for brainstorming and designing a business. We highly recommend these methods for any group brainstorming. They will help any team while processing and creating new marketing strategies. When building new strategies it is vital to have clear expectations and communication. Some creative ways to build strategies are:

  • Visualizing with Post-it Notes
  • Visualizing with Drawings
  • Understand the Essence
  • Enhance Dialogue
  • Explore Ideas
  • Improve Communication

 Using Different Types of Visualization for Different Needs will help in building a strong, clear strategy.

(Taken from pages 150-157 of Business Model Generation by Osterwalder & Pigneur)

 

-AR

Business Model Generation, Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Clarity, Strategy, Visualizing, Communication

Expectations: U.S. Military | Clarity

12 February 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: Building Trust, Clarity, Trust, Trust in Leadership

Expectations. Deadlines. Priorities. Specificity. Clear Communication. The Military, whatever branch it may be, Army, The Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, The National Guard or Coast Guard, each has a set of expectations that are clear and specific. What they promise is what they mean and they will deliver.  No candidate goes into basic training expecting it to be a walk in the park. Training will be rigorous but ultimately the best will come through, competent and the best at what they do.

Being candid is not being afraid to tell the truth in the clearest terms possible. In basic training candidates are trained for real live war. The training officers do their utmost to make sure that it is as real as battle. If not, these candidates would most likely walk into war putting themselves and others around them in danger. Communication has to be absolutely clear. One miscommunication and someone could end up dead.

The military’s form of training and expectations is an extreme example of being candid. But for their purpose it effectively trains and readies the troops for battle. Being frank and transparent makes one trusted, and the team, in spite of uncertain times, remains unified. Authenticity and frankness inspire. For the military to be successful and ready at any moment they have to have high expectations, and clear communication.

So, how can you be as clear in your communication and expectations?

  • Listen
  • Empathize
  • Avoid manipulation. Don’t overstate or understate.
  • Speak honestly and without exaggeration.
  • Stay focused and avoid distractions.
  • Ask questions.
  • Glean information from the nonverbal communication.
  • Keep an open mind and do not jump to conclusions.
  • Do not criticize.
  • Simplify the complicated.
  • First seek to understand, and then to be understood.
  • Mean what you say. 

-AR

U.S. Marine Corp, Army, Navy, Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, Trust in Leadership, Clarity, Expectations, Communication

Zappos! | Clarity

7 February 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: Uncategorized

Zappos! vision is simple: One day, 30% of all retail transactions in the US will be online. People will buy from the company with the best service and the best selection. Zappos.com will be that online store.

Zappos! is an online store that provides the best selection in shoes in terms of brands, styles, colors, sizes and widths and makes sure the customer’s order will arrive as quickly as possible.  Their company has risen out of the internet sales business as one of the most trusted. Why such success? Zappos! has a clear vision, and focuses on one or two specialties in which they excel. Zappos! focus remains, to be the best service and best selection.  Because of its success, the mega-giant online retailer Amazon.com bought the company in 2009, in hopes to learn and grow alongside them!

How do they keep their employees motivated and customers satisfied? The hold tightly to their 10 core values.

  1. Deliver WOW Through Service
  2. Embrace and Drive Change
  3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
  4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
  5. Pursue Growth and Learning
  6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
  7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
  8. Do More With Less
  9. Be Passionate and Determined

10.  Be Humble

Having clarity means having a clear vision. A clear vision inspires, unifies, and gives powerful focus. A clear vision will focus on one or two specialties in which you excel and will motivate others around you. 

 

-AR

Zappos!, Vision, The Trust Edge, Amazon, Consumer Trust, Trust in Business, Trust in Sales

Zooming: How Effective Leaders Adjust Focus | Clarity

5 February 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: 8 Pillars, Leadership Tips, The Trust Edge

Harvard Business School Professor, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, talks on having a clear vision, the importance of zooming in and zooming out, and what should be the top priorities of a leader.

 

-AR

Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business School, Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Clarity, Vision, The Trust Edge

NCAA Athletes with a Trust Edge | Eight Pillar People

23 January 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: 8 Pillars, Building Trust, The Trust Edge, Trust, Trust in Sports, Trusted Person

Lance Armstrong, Manti Te’o, Tiger Woods. These athletes and athletes like them have been the talk of the news and will always be the talk of the news. People are intrigued by scandals. Athletes who are trustworthy, hard-working and respectable are rarely brought to light.

Nick Amuchastegui, Miles Batty, Ashley Brignac, Micah Davis, Robert Griffin III, Stacey Hagensen, Lindsay Lettow, Brooke Pancake, Liz Phillips and Wendy Trott. The only athlete that you may have heard of out of this bunch is 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III, also known as the Washington Redskins’RGIII. These ten athletes hold records in their sport, at their schools and in the NCAA record book. However, that is not what makes these athletes so unique. Their ability to play not just the role of athlete, but of a student first (an excellent one at that), as well as being involved in their community contributes to their uniqueness and the reason why they were named the NCAA Top Ten Athletes of 2013.

With GPA’s of 3.5’s and above, as well as multiple non-profit volunteer initiatives, these athletes know what it takes to be a trusted individual. They didn’t take the short cut to become excellent. They worked hard, and took the more difficult course over the easy course. They extend their hand just enough so that they knew what they could balance as a student-athlete-philanthropist.

The Eight Pillars of Trust are what these athletes are all about. Having a clear vision is what kept their eye on the prize and helped them succeed at what they do best. Each volunteered in different non-profits, such as The Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, The American Cancer Society, Boys and Girls Club, showing compassion, and being an example of servant leadership. They clearly exhibited character in their excellence. All of them showed their commitment to their sport, the communities they were involved in and schooling. Throughout all of these activities they remained fresh, relevant, and capable. They extended their networks by connecting with others outside of their comfort zone and contributed to their teammates, their communities and the world of sports.

Ultimately, the reason all of these athletes obtained such an honorable award was because of their consistency. They delivered the same moral product every time, and were consistent in their actions, which is stronger than superfluous promising words.

Unfortunately, these athletes will go unnoticed in mainstream media, and the scandals of athletes like Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods will always take precedence. One thing can be sure; these athletes will impact so many people throughout their lifetime, because they have proven that having the Eight Pillars of Trust will give you an edge, an edge that will mold an excellent and a trusted individual.

To read more on these trusted athletes, check out the full NCAA Top 10 for 2013 Article: Top 10 in 2013

 

Top row: Tony Dungy, Keith Jackson, Chad Hennings, Yolanda ‘Gail’ Devers, Bob Cottingham, Dylann Duncan Ceriani, Kirk Rohle, and David Borden 

Bottom row: Wendy Trott, Liz Phillips, Brooke Pancake, Lindsay Lettow, Stacey Hagensen, Micah Davis, Ashley Brignac, Miles Batty, and Nick Amuchastegui (Robert Griffin III was also an awardee but could not attend)

 

-AR

Nick Amuchastegui, Miles Batty, Ashley Brignac, Micah Davis, Robert Griffin III, Stacey Hagensen, Lindsay Lettow, Brooke Pancake, Liz Phillips, Wendy Trott, NCAA , Top 10 NCAA Athletes of 2013, RGIII, Trust in Sports, Building Trust, Eight Pillars of Trust, The Trust Edge 

Pat Summitt: 38 Years of Success | Trust in Sports

9 January 2013
dhorsager
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Categories: 8 Pillars, Building Trust, David Horsager, The Trust Edge, Trust, Trust Coaching, Trust in Leadership, Trust in Sports, Trusted Person

After 38 years, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball players, coaches and community had to say goodbye to the most competent and successful basketball coach, not only in women’s basketball but in NCAA history. Under Pat Summitt’s leadership, the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball program was the most elite the nation has ever seen. Young girls from fourth grade on up would attend Summitt’s basketball camps every summer in hopes of learning how to be the best. Any girl who has ever had a passion for the game of basketball has dreams of being a part of that 11 woman roster and the privilege of wearing the orange and baby blue jerseys.

Pat Summitt made an appearance at 31 NCAA Tournaments, 22 teams made it to the Final Four and eight won NCAA Championship titles. At the end of her career Summitt claimed the title of the Most Winningest Coach in NCAA history, above John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski, with a record of 1098-208 (.841).

What makes Pat Summitt so great? Trust. Summitt’s life and career exude the Eight Pillars of Trust.

Clarity: Summitt had a clear vision and purpose. She “instilled a pattern of success in her players and constantly challenged them to reach their potential as a student and athlete.” Her program reinforces that a clear vision unifies and motivates.

Compassion: Ask any of Pat’s current and former players and each one will tell you that Summitt was the hardest coach but the most loving. “Her players speak of the opportunities afforded to them later in life with a degree in life lessons from Summitt…” Summitt was trusted because she was a selfless and sacrificial leader who thought beyond her own interests.

Character:  Integrity is being the same in thoughts, words, and actions. Pat Summitt never boasted, although proud of her players she was respected for her humility. Her principles and values she carried with her at home, in practice and in games. Her accountability came from a staff that respected her principles and they supported her in them.

Competency: Pat was raised with the principles of hard work, and as a young girl after she finished her farm chores she would end up playing basketball in a hayloft.  “ She was strong … had great instincts … was awesome on defense … took a charge like a greedy housewife … denied the ball all over the court … rebounded with authority … took the ball to the hoop … and then could knock the lights out over a zone defense.” These characteristics led her to playing on the Olympic Women’s basketball team, a four year career in the WNBA and landing a job as the UT Volunteers Women’s basketball coach at the age of 22.

Commitment: Pat is the ultimate picture of commitment. She played basketball for the University of Tennessee for her college career and coached there for 38 years. Summitt’s passion for the game was the reason for such great commitment to the team.

Connection: Pat was one of the best coaches in the NCAA not only because of her knowledge of the game of basketball. She knew that building a great team could only happen through connecting with her players and staff. She cared beyond herself, asked great questions, listened, collaborated, was genuine, was grateful, and made a rule to never complain.

Contribution: Pat was the pioneer of NCAA women’s basketball.  She contributed her life to the game of basketball.  She was known to deliver results, and not just in basketball. At the end of her coaching career she held a record of 1098-208, but one of her greater successes was that her program had a 100% graduation rate. She produced great athletes as well as great minds and leaders to society.

Consistency: Even after the retirement of Pat Summitt, because of the consistency displayed by the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team, the program  still has a reputation to be the ideal place to play college basketball.

There are many good coaches and good sports programs. To be considered a great coach, which is trusted by the entire sports world, requires the characteristics of the Eight Pillars of Trust. Pat Summitt exudes trust in leadership. Even now as she begins to battle Alzheimer’s, the sports world trusts that Pat will still work hard, fight hard and never compromise. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmeK-WJklGo

 

-AR

Trust in Leadership, Trust in Sports, Building Trust, commitment, consistency, connection, contribution, character, Pat Summitt, University of Tennessee, Lady Vols Basketball, Pat Summitt Alzheimer’s

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