The Social Network: "Speed of Trust"...

Corporate Executives have for years understood the power of building trust.  What are a few of the foundations for creating sustainable credibility, in a world fueled by digital social networks?

This begins with reading the Stephen Covey bestseller, "The Speed of Trust."

The one thing that changes everything, as the cover reads is a real understatement. As a CxO in your organization, you have to examine the degree to which your people, processes and systems possess the "4 Cores of Credibility":

• "Integrity - is deep honesty and truthfulness. It is who we really are. It includes congruence, humility and courage. To increase your integrity, make and keep commitments to yourself. Stand for something and then live by it. Be open. Do you seriously consider other viewpoints?
• Intent - is your fundamental motive or agenda and the behavior that follows. It includes motive, agenda and behavior. To improve your intent, examine your motives. Are everyone's interests being served? Share the "why" behind the "what" wherever possible.
• Capabilities - is our capacity to produce and accomplish tasks: talents, attitudes, skills, knowledge and style. To build your capabilities run with your strengths. Match your strengths to unique high-value opportunities. Know where you are going and keep the vision in front of you.
• Results - is your track record. People evaluate you on three key indicators of performance. Past, current and anticipated. To improve your results take responsibility and adopt a "results" mind-set. Expect to win and create a climate of high expectations. Finish strong and avoid the "victim mentality."

Trustworthiness in a relationship and an environment of trust in the economy, national security or the stock market makes all the difference. The behaviors that you exhibit in public and behind closed doors with your stakeholders, will set the tone for everyone inside and outside the organization.

Can you think of any companies or people over the past two years, that you have lost trust in?

Stephen Covey goes on to explore the 13 behaviors that we all need to be more aware of in the way people perceive us and our companies. These are all important items that we have all heard before, yet are worth the time to explore again and more deeply at this stage of our evolving digital social networks.

Everything we do should be looked upon from and through a "Trust Lens," so that we take the time to ascertain how a particular behavior may have an impact on someones perception of you or your organization.

It does not matter where or what is going on in the news, the perceptions are being formed on the fly in our respective human mind views. Depending on how the headline reads or the iPhone video reveals, could influence even whether you decide to read an entire news article or watch a news segment that is unfolding before you.

Operational Risk Management (ORM), that is effective in the enterprise begins with building trust and integrity. If you are a private company, do you even have an "Ethics" 800 number, that allows employees to report anonymous tips on infractions on company policy or observations of security violations and/or malfeasance?

If you do, this could be the first sign that the "Tone at the Top" means business when it comes to "Walking the Talk" on trust and integrity.  And when you have reached these milestones, then it may be time for "Achieving Digital Trust:  The New Rules for Business at the Speed of Light"...