Nan S. Russell - Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture That Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation

Praise for TRUST, INC.

Trust, Inc. is filled with so many great thoughts, ideas, and tools that I think would be useful for a boss of any kind...or really anyone who works with other people.

Paul W. King III, production manager, Specialty Food Merchandising

Trust, Inc. is so much more than the title suggests! It will challenge your intellect, touch you emotionally, and open your eyes to how you can change yourself and those around you in a meaningful, powerful way. Reading Nans book will undoubtedly propel you to a higher understanding of the why and the how of authentic work relationships. It is truly humbling and emotionally moving to find a piece of writing so electrifying in its wisdom.

Peter Krajeski, HR manager, PA Leadership Charter School, Palcs.org

Trust, Inc. helped me to identify the part I play in elevating trust to help cultivate a more creative and innovative project team. Nans writing style, with real-world examples, immediately painted a picture of today with hope for tomorrow. This book is honest and engaging, and calls for insight to help cultivate trust in our teams. I have tangible action items that I can incorporate into my daily work life to build better software products with happier, more fulfilled team members.

G. Young, senior project manager

Praise for the Author

I would trust Nan Russell to drive My Bus with myself and all of my team with me to anywhere in the world.

Diane Hennessy, store manager, Macys Leadership Award Winner

I have followed Nans writings for years and always look forward to her next article or book. Nan has a way of giving real-life, practical examples anyone can relate to and helps you come to your own insights by seeing an experience through her reflections.

Eleanor Gathany, GPHR, senior regional HR leader, Amazon

Nan Russell is a leader who feeds the passion in all who work with her. She has the ability to bring out the very best in everyone she comes in contact with.

Gloria S. Baladez, manager HR operations and experience, QVC

TRUST, INC.

How to Create a Business Culture That Will
Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation

NAN S. RUSSELL

Copyright 2014 by Nan S. Russell

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher, The Career Press.

TRUST, INC.

EDITED AND TYPESET BY KARA KUMPEL

Cover design by Rob Johnson/Toprotype

Printed in the U.S.A.

To order this title, please call toll-free 1-800-CAREER-1 (NJ and Canada: 201-848-0310) to order using VISA or MasterCard, or for further information on books from Career Press.

The Career Press, Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
www.careerpress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Russell, Nan S.

Trust, inc. : how to create a business culture that will ignite passion, engagement, and innovation / by Nan S. Russell.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-60163-285-2 (pbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-60163-508-2 (ebook) 1. Leadership. 2. Trust. 3. Employee motivation. 4. Corporate culture. I. Title.

HD57.7.R868 2013

658.314--dc23

2013036047

This book is dedicated to my parents, who taught me through their lifes actions the meaning of authentic trust.

In memory of my father, C. Franklin Schindler, who believed everyone deserved a fair chance, your word is as binding as a contract, a job without passion is work, and you must bring your music to your world. And to my mother, Nancy Friend Schindler, whose joyful, playful, and loving spirit saw, nurtured, and sought the best in people, and who still operates with a compassionate heart and the philosophy to give more than you get from life.

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.

~H.E. Luccock

I wanted to write a book about trust for a very long time. Its tune played in and around my work for years. But bringing out a connected and integrated melody only occurred because a few people trusted my passion, believed in the message, and helped me shape its essence. Im grateful to each of you who worked on this bookhelping it come together, pushing to make it better, and ensuring its message gets heard. Although my name appears on the cover, yours is woven into its core.

Im indebted to my wonderful agent, Lisa Hagan, of Lisa Hagan Literary, who believed in the books idea and brought it to light with Career Press, enabling me to once again work with a terrific publisher. A special thanks to the entire Career Press team, including Ron Fry, Michael Pye, Adam Schwartz, Laurie Ann Kelly-Pye, Jeff Piasky, Gina Talucci, and Kirsten Dalley.

Im indebted to my friend and colleague Beth Pelkofsky, who, even after 20 years working together, still says yes to new projects and brings her thoughtful perspective to multiple drafts, enhancing my words and augmenting my thinking. And to Jill Dodds, whose persistence and resourcefulness helps me stay writing while she checks facts, verifies statements, obtains permissions, and lets me stop worrying.

Im indebted to bosses Ive worked for and people Ive worked with, who trusted me and by doing so created an environment that enabled my learning, growth, and contribution. Im also indebted to the people who didnt trust, made work difficult, and demonstrated the tangible impact of distrust. You shaped the work I do today.

Im indebted to family, friends, and readers who keep me grounded, encouraging, nudging, challenging, and supporting me. A very special thanks to my son Ian Russell, daughter-in-law Janine, and granddaughters Neva and Adelin who provide me not only joy, but tangible reasons to keep working for better work cultures for them and people everywhere.

Finally, Im indebted to the one person who holds it all together for memy best friend and husband of 38 years, Dan Russell, who edits my work, counters my thinking, and makes technology easy for me. But, thats not what he really does. He gets me, sees me, and creates a nurturing place with unconditional love that gives me the soul-courage to write.

With gratitude,

Nan S. Russell

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

~Peter Drucker

I believe the seeds for this book began decades ago. Perhaps when I was 11 and my then-BFF broke my heart; or maybe later when a teachers promise turned false in a 9th-grade awards ceremony; or maybe when a boss I admired asked me to lie for her; or when a failed marriage challenged my self-trust; or when money was confiscated by our builder; or...you get the point.

My broken-trust experiences are no different from yours. We all have them. We all know the pain, disappointment, and anger of giving our trust, only to have it betrayed. We all know how foolish we feel, how vulnerable and gullible, and taken. And we all know we dont ever want to feel that way again. We also know how disheartening and unfulfilling it is to work with or for people you cant trust or who dont trust you. Yet, thats the reality for most.