There is something special about an old friend.  The familiarity.  The shared experiences. The trust. The acceptance.

Old friends are there when you need them most.  You can count on them when life is hard.  They can become just like family.

We all need those friends. I place tremendous value on my own personal Circle of Trust.

It is also important to consider that old friends rely on the same things you rely on in those relationships.  The shared experiences.  The familiarity.

So, when you embark on BIG change and embrace what is next and new it can be a bit unsettling for old friends (and family).  While well intentioned, they simply may not understand. While they care, it may be hard for them to lend unconditional support.  They may even be more inclined to hold on.  You have to make sure nothing holds you back.

That is why it may be important to embrace the opportunity to make new friends, who perhaps more easily align with your transformation.  New friends don’t have any attachment to the past.  They often are quick to champion the person you are becoming and join the reinvention campaign.  Collecting a few new friends on your journey is invaluable, even for the very experience of what cultivating a new, meaningful relationship teaches us.

I am looking forward to dinner this evening with two new friends. 30 months ago I hardly knew them.  Today it is doubtful a week goes by without a touch base for updates and mutual support.  This dinner will definitely count as one of my 3 ‘meaningful meetings‘ this week but it will also matter so much more.  These two have joined my journey and I have no doubt tonight’s conversation will serve as a catalyst for collaboration, change, opportunity and impact.

I suppose making new friends isn’t always easy.  It doesn’t always work out.  It takes an investment of time.  Being open.  A little risk.  A shift in the routine. A willingness to listen and learn.

I recently read that “the difference between who you are today and who you will be two years from now is based largely on the people you meet and the books you read.”

Powerful.  The questions:

What are you reading?  Who are you meeting?

Change is hard work. It is worth the effort.  We can all get by with a little help from our friends.

Posted in Leadership

Tags: Change, Friends, Trust

Remember the movie, Meet the Parents?  Where Gaylord Faucker was hopelessly left outside his soon to be father in law’s magic circle of trust despite his every effort and very best of intentions. Once he was outside the circle it took quite the herculean effort to get back inside.

TRUST is a major issue in the workplace today.  Employee engagement has waned and the prevailing feeling in so many organizations can only be described as anxious and trapped.  It matters little whether the marketplace is talent rich, if the talent on the team isn’t aligned to the objectives and invested in the outcomes.  And invested just enough not to get fired doesn’t count.  I know a lot of passive jobs seekers, working and waiting for something better to come their way.

Sales and Marketing have a Circle of Trust with their customers.  So does Recruiting and Leadership with their employees. And trust and engagement are never higher than the moment someone says YES!  Once the big decision is made the trust should solidify and escalate into endearing loyalty and evangelism.  But it usually doesn’t.  The circle breaks down.

When interest is elevated and engagement is high its a violation if the ‘experience’ doesn’t meet the ‘expectation’.  Brands (and employer brands) that can deliver an experience, that exceed expectations consistently (exceed once and fail twice and you’ll drive people crazy and right into the hands of the competition) build loyalty and have the opportunity to drive evangelism.

Transparency and Authenticity are the new mandate.  You better BE what you SAY.  I read a great quote about this on the Edelman site last night.

“Audiences expect companies to interact with authenticity and transparency. Companies need engagement. Both will only achieve these if driven by compelling content that courts, plays and engages with credibility and professionalism. As Peter Whitehead wrote in the Financial Times, Web 2.0 is a world in which anyone can have a go at generating content; Web 3.0 is where professionals take the lead in shaping that content.  And those professionals are the production experts and the multichannel, multimedia engagement experts. A new world, needing a new marketing offer. It’s all for the taking.”

Content is everywhere.  Quality is another matter entirely.  And better communication inside and outside the company is imperative.  And experience is what really counts.

Authentic, Sincere, Transparent, Timely and Relevant Communication builds TRUST. With employees and customers.

How is your company doing?  Are they inside your circle?

Posted in Brand, Communications, Employee Engagement, Recruiting, Sales, Uncategorized

Tags: Trust