It’s been several years since I taught my daughter how to ride her bicycle without training wheels but the lessons from that experience resonated with me as I thought about trust in corporate culture.
Just like many kids her age, my daughter was excited by the prospect of riding her bike without training wheels. It took quite a bit of trust on both our parts to achieve the goal. First, she had to trust me to create a safe environment. We used pads and a helmet to protect her against an inevitable fall. We practiced in a cul-de-sac and away from through traffic. I held her seat until she reached balance and eventually picked up speed. I also needed to show confidence in her ability to improve, help her recover when she lost her balance, and cheer her on as she rode around the neighborhood with her friends.
It turns out that trust is as important in a corporate setting as it is in helping kids learn and excel at a new skill. Trust is the foundation of an effective culture that results in happy customers and propels corporate performance.
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