Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace: Building Effective Relationships in Your Organization

Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace's genius lies in demystifying "trust". With clarity, depth and a great deal of illuminating pragmaticism, this book offers a concise way of; understanding what different factors build trust within oneself and with others, what levels of trust currently exist in a given situation and a sophisticated and powerful model for healing and moving thru betrayal. Finally, the chapter on "Transformative Trust" reveals an electrifying vision of what is possible when we have a foundation of trust in ourselves, others and the organization.

My boss gave me a copy of this book. Initially, I thought "something to read on the train". What I quickly realized was that this was probably the most straightforward book I've read. It is logical, honest and simple in plan. I find myself using this as a reference guide rather than reading beginning to end. I enjoy going to the sections that I have a particular interest in. It's a comfort book, a reminder to do the things that make us all feel better at the end of the day.

When I first began to read this book, I thought it would be just like all the others that I had attempted to read but never succeeded in doing so. It didn't take long for me to realize that it did indeed hold the secrets to valuable information that would definitely help me to achieve a sense of freedom in both the work force and also in my personal life. By following the simple instructions, one can fine tune all of the information read and use it to enrich your life and the lives of others. To heal and become productive again in both your personal and professional life is to truly be free. I have reflected back many times when following the 7 steps on healing and betrayal and it has become like a bible to me. Even though problems may occur, I am now able to handle them effectively and I have learned to let go. I once felt strangled and hepless, but now that I have applied these seven steps, I have a clearer sense of control. Thank you Dennis and Michelle for writing this excellent book.

This important piece of work is written in an easy to read format which should be required reading for all business professionals. The book describes the importance of trust and why it is the core issue facing business people today. In our fast paced work lives, we need to be able to trust those we work with. Without that trust, organizations cannot run at an optimal level. I especially like the 7 steps for healing, which suggests that there is a way to establish trust in our workplaces. I plan to use this book the next time I teach Organizational Behavior, because it examines the issue in a manner which I know my students will love. Thank you Michelle and Dennis for this wonderful book!

In their Preface, the Reinas explain: "This book is about trust: the power when it exists, the problems when it doesn't, and the pain when it is betrayed. Our purpose in writing this book is to help people at all levels of the organization to create, support, and rebuild trust in themselves and within their organizations." Here is how their book is organized:Part I Understanding Trust and BetrayalPart II Transactional Trust (Three Types)Part III Transformative TrustThe material consists of sharply-focused analysis, mini-case studies anchored in real-world experiences, a series of checklists, and then at the conclusion of each chapter a summary of key points followed by "Ideas in Action." Together, this combination of analysis and information helps to explain HOW to establish and then sustain trust throughout any organization. The authors also offer some practical advice on how to recover from betrayal, once experienced: Observe and acknowledge what has happened, allow your feelings to surface, get support, reframe the experience, forgive yourself and others, and finally let go and move on. Most of us have experienced betrayal in personal relationships and many of us have also experienced organizational betrayal. It can indeed be painful. The authors assert that first you must trust yourself; if you don't, you probably cannot or will not trust another person. Next, give trust to others inorder to obtain it. Trust another's character. Years ago, Stan Smith lost a major tennis title to Arthur Ashe after a call against Smith which enraged the crowd. Later, Smith agreed that losing the point was the turning point in the match. He then added, "But if Arthur said my shot was out, that's good enough for me." Trust another's competence. "I know you can do it. I have total confidence in your abilities." Most of the time (not always), the person told this will then do everything humanly possible to prove worthy of such trust. Trust those with whom you work closely. Small concentrations of trust within a branch office, department or business unit can frequently develop a momentum which has much wider and deeper impact. That, in essence, is what "transformative trust" is all about. The Reinas explain this quite well in Part III.The Reinas conclude their book with a series of questions which will help the reader to determine the nature and extent of trust within her orn his own organization, and, to determine what needs to be done to increase it effectively. There is no break-through thinking in this book...nor do the Reinas claim to offer any. Rather, as indicated, their book examines real-world situations which demonstrate either the potential benefits of trust or the destructive consequences of betrayal. For most of those interested in the subject, that should be sufficient.