Development of Trust for Authentic Recognition

How do we really create authentic and "real" recognition? Managers and employees alike are concerned what "others" think when they attempt to give positive feedback to a fellow worker.

The secret behind giving Real Recognition is building trust first so that giving of recognition is perceived and received correctly.

How do you do that, you ask?

Development of Trust can be formulaically shown using the following attributes as:

Consistency : Credibility : Trust : Relationship

Let’s look at each of these attributes.

Consistency

You need to prove to people you mean what you say and you do what you say you will do. This will require the following types of behaviours:

Behaviours
Prioritizes relationships (BlackBerry, Outlook, planner; Post-It Note(R) reminders); Self-discipline and self-management; demonstrate in speaking, writing and actions respect and recognition; values driven;

Credibility

By being consistent in your actions and words to people you work with displays a level of credibility in everyone’s eyes. It means you can be counted upon. To develop greater credibility means living the following behaviours:

Behaviours
Purpose driven; principle based; respect and common courtesy; valuing people for who they are and what they do; being transparent; being available; appreciative; calculated risk-taker;

Trust

Once you have demonstrated consistent actions proving yourself to be a credible person, you are likely to be a strong candidate of someone who can be trusted. Further characteristics necessary for being trust-worthy may include:

Behaviours
Confident; caring; right intentions; ethical decisions; admitting when wrong; immediate corrections or restitution of wrongs; logical and emotional; right results; right reasons; belief in others and self;

Relationship

All of these attributes and behaviours lead to the formation of positive relationships with those around us – those at work as well as at home. We display all of the above behaviours and many others, as well as these relationship focused skills as well, i.e.:

Behaviours
People focused: caring, concern, authentic, listening, action oriented, sincere and specific, kind acts, genuine positive feedback, encouraging, affirming, meaningful giving.

Consistency : Credibility : Trust : Relationship

These four attributes and some of the correlating behaviours shown above, are foundational qualities and skills needed to be able to give authentic recognition that can be positively felt.