Work Relationships - It's About Mutual Trust and Respect

This is a term I learned back from working with Toyota and it is one that I have used in all of my professional relationships. The concept is simple: people work well together when they trust and respect one another. So the goal is to create a working environment where everyone has "mutual trust and respect" for everyone else on the team and in the organization.

Now after many years of working at Toyota and seeing first hand how this is seen and handled, this is simple concept is NOT one that is easily embraced. It takes a lot of consistent effort by all parties involved that are actually willing to achieve this state.

Practically speaking I know just how unrealistic it is to expect most organizations to actually work towards this. They have their moments, but mostly these moments evaporate on the slightest leadership change or economic hardship that is encountered indicating that there is no real commitment by the organization to this ideal.

However that does not make this concept totally worthless. What I have found is that it is best for a technology professional or any professional for that matter whether they are individual contributors or leaders is that you have to get to a point where you can mutually trust and respect your immediate peers and the leadership you depend on. Most people understand the many guises this takes; basically the process of building up contacts within an organization that can be relied upon. However there is a very subtle and powerful distinction. The common thought of "building equity" that can be used later when needed is a highly political process one that can still be easily undermined by more powerful factors. Whereas the "building of goodwill" is entirely different in that it is an matter of integrity and reliability, true trust and respect whereby all interested parties will actually work with one another and back one another even in spite of political currents.

This can sound rather far fetched. However it is really very simply proven. Political equity takes time to build and is usually implemented via a slight hint of threat. Additionally political equity is invoked or actively implemented. Mutual trust and respect is the reverse. It is altruistic, people genuinely mention accomplishments, praise and critiques on a routine basis and even stand up for others without any prodding whatsoever. They do this because they know it is right, not because it is politically aligned. I have found that relationships based on mutual trust and respect last longer, provide greater value, and are far more reliable than any other work relationship.

For example networking on job opportunities is a classic. How good is your network at delivering opportunities? I receive a lot of really great opportunities from my network because they are all people that I mutually trust and respect and they do the same. Other colleagues and professionals who have not invested in their relationships as a result have limited success with their connections. Again job opportunities are just a single facet of building quality relationships.

It is relationships founded on mutual trust and respect that help get professionals through tough assignments and build lasting valuable networks.