This week was one where the concept of trust was discussed, discovered and embraced. Trust is the foundation on which relationships are built. It has many facets, sometimes seen, sometimes unseen. And we all have the opportunity to build, break or restore trust in every interaction we have. Trust is also fragile. This quote from leadership expert Franklin Covey puts it in perspective. “The ability to establish, grow, extend and restore trust is the key professional and personal competency of our time”.
For some, trusting comes easy. For others, it’s a challenge. We all view it, embrace it and apply it as uniquely as we see the world. I have a mixed view of trust. I would love to say I always extend trust on the front end of a relationship. In my heart my goal is to trust until given a reason not to. Despite my best efforts, outwardly it might come across more like “trust, but verify”. I think I have gotten better over the years, but I’m still a work in progress on this idea. And it’s that darn “D” wiring in my DISC profile!
One concept of trust rang true through a variety of my conversations this week. That was the concept of extending trust. From a leadership standpoint, it sounded like this – somebody believed in me before I believed in myself, and gave me opportunities that opened doors to my future. As someone with self-proclaimed trust issues, this made me think about leaders that did this for me. I reflected on who, how our relationship was built, and how much impact it had on me personally and professionally.
One mentor that quickly came to mind was Dean Hoffmann, a manufacturing leader and my direct supervisor for roughly five years starting in my late 20’s. Dean was, and still is, a change agent. His primary role then was to come into a manufacturing organization and make the necessary changes to improve efficiency and productivity. He could see things before others, had great ideas for optimization, and loved to challenge the status quo to get you to think.
When Dean came into our organization, I was a production planner who ordered inventory and created production schedules to meet customer needs. No leadership experience, just an ambition to progress in my career. I worked on projects that helped shape operational strategy, contributed to conversations across the facility, and wanted to be in the places where change was happening because it was exciting and invigorating.
My first attempt at securing a leadership opportunity failed. Someone with several years of leadership experience was promoted. I was disappointed, but it was one of the best things that could have happened. That individual’s promotion left a wonderful opportunity for me to fill and it was the start of my leadership journey! I look back now and am so thankful for the way it all worked out.
Dean must have seen something in me that I did not. He took a chance on a green youngster with no real experience and gave me an opportunity to thrive. He challenged me to think differently about operations. Honestly, that part was easy for me. What he really challenged were my people skills. To be honest, they needed help! He was kind, considerate and caring as he coached me through my opportunities for growth. When I was in charge of assembly operations, we would do morning plant walk-abouts together. When I would kindly ask someone to do something, but forget to say please, he would whisper “please” in my ear and keep walking. Gentle reminders to modify my behavior.
Over time, Dean continued to provide new opportunities for me that expanded my exposure in the organization and grow my operational and leadership skills. He never left me in a particular role for long. Every 8 – 12 months I had an opportunity to lead a new area of the plant, working on improving processes and honing my people skills. Each expanded role had new responsibilities and challenges, often in areas I had no idea about. He coached me through examples and shared his perspective on leadership and business challenges. He gave me the corner office next to his so we had ample time to connect. Maybe that was to keep an eye on me from a distance without getting in my way, but I appreciated the autonomy and the recognition. Once he even gave ME the corner office with the great windows, and took the secondary space since he was going to be traveling quite a bit. Talk about leaving an impression!
We recently reconnected on LinkedIn and I am thankful I had the opportunity to thank him for the impact he had on me personally and professionally. Without those initial experiences to lay a foundation for leadership, I’m not sure where I would have gotten them. And I honestly don’t know if I would be where I am today. I was reminded in another conversation this week that great mentors don’t just show up and say, “Hi, I’d like to mentor you.” They often do it quietly and before we even realize what’s changed in us. They see something in us that shows promise, extend trust first, and then give us the opportunity to expand that trust. Managers show us the tasks, but leaders help us grow.
It’s the responsibility of every leader to pay it forward. Today I have the opportunity to serve in a mentor role, extending trust and providing opportunities for others on my team, seeing potential they might not see in themselves, just as Dean did for me. Life has come full circle, as it often does in our careers.
“The mind lives in doubt and the heart lives in trust. When you trust, you suddenly become centered.” ~ Osho
Hallway Consulting Group 
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