Trust - The Difference Maker in Employer, Employee Motivation

Pundits wax eloquently about tangible and intangiblegroups as they interact. There is an ebb and flow.. with
motivators. From the hefty bonuses granted to wallpermanence the goal of motivating leaders.
street brokers, to the turkeys provided the rank andTrust is difficult to attain, or indeed obtain. When lost,
file at holiday time, analysts attempt to quantify thethe glue which helped cement a relationship together
return on employers' investments.may be lost forever. Like a house on the beach
The authors of these white papers use a variety ofsuccumbing to the slow yet relentless tide, trust can
spurious metrics in attempting to quantify positive gainswash out to sea. Regaining trust is possible. A slow,
in productivity, attendance and morale. Additionally theyarduous journey but well worth the risk.
point to reductions in errors, scrap, and employeeWhen cultivated and fertilized, trust adds immeasurable
turnover.value to a business relationship. With time, trust is the
Sales people who specialize in service awards andcatalyst which keeps people together and makes life
productivity trinkets lead CEO's to believe their waresworth living. In a corporate environment, trust enables
are the nirvana in motivational tools.leaders to lead. Imbued with trust, employees will
When receiving an award, the employee puffs outbecome fully engaged and committed to the
their chest, smiles broadly and feels momentarily proud.company's goals. An example of this is the
Monetary bonuses garner employee loyalty andcommitment of employees in times of a crises such
dedication in the short term. The reciprocal benefit foras the Manhattan project... endless hours spurred on
the employer is fleeting. At the occurrence of the nextby the trust scientists had in their leadership.
stressful event such as an argument with theirThe development and maintenance of esprit de corps
manager, the employee's value proposition of theare not possible without trust. The payment of
award diminishes rapidly.bonuses and gold watches are of little consequence.
The foundation of ALL employee motivation is trust.People will not commit themselves to risk their personal
Not quantifiable, touchable, or testable, the complexpsychological bank account for a cause or a leader in
spirits of trust permeate every aspect of employeewhom they do not believe. Make no mistake, trust
transactions. A complex, enduring combination ofcomes from the inners of our souls.
respect, belief, honesty, commitment, faith, mutualOn the other hand, trust is possible in a atmosphere of
reliance, confidence, trust is all encompassing.honesty, consistency, and faith in each other.
Yes, I am talking about spirits, as in plural. An EthernetTrust is a human not material value. You know it when
type of gas, trust swirls in and around individuals andyou feel it.