Building Trust In Business, Politics, Relationships, and Life

by Solomon, Robert C.; Flores, Fernando

• ISBN13: 9780195161113
• ISBN10: 0195161114
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-05-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

In business, politics, marriage, indeed in any significant relationship, trust is the essential precondition upon which all real success depends. But what, precisely, is trust? How can it be achieved and sustained? And, most importantly, how can it be regained once it has been broken? In Building Trust, Robert C. Solomon and Fernando Flores offer compelling answers to these questions. They argue that trust is not something that simply exists from the beginning, something we can assume or take for granted; that it is not a static quality or "social glue." Instead, they assertthat trust is an emotional skill, an active and dynamic part of our lives that we build and sustain with our promises and commitments, our emotions and integrity. In looking closely at the effects of mistrust, such as insidious office politics that can sabotage a company's efficiency, Solomon andFlores demonstrate how to move from naive trust that is easily shattered to an authentic trust that is sophisticated, reflective, and possible to renew. As the global economy makes us more and more reliant on "strangers," and as our political and personal interactions become more complex, Building Trust offers invaluable insight into a vital aspect of human relationships.

Author Biography

Robert C. Solomon is the Quincy Lee Centennial Professor of Business and Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin. His books include A Short History of Philosophy and Business Ethics, both published by OUP. Fernando Flores is Presidente, Fundacion Chile (a Chilean non-governmental organization) and Chairman and CEO of Business Design Associates, Inc.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	3	(13)
Trusting Trust	16	(36)
Trust on Trial	18	(4)
Alternatives to Trust: Fear, Control, Power	22	(8)
Distrust: ``Paranoia'' and Cynicism	30	(7)
Basic Trust	37	(3)
Trusting Strangers: The Global Society	40	(3)
Talking about Trust	43	(4)
Building Trust	47	(5)
Understanding and Misunderstanding Trust	52	(38)
How We Misunderstand Trust	54	(5)
Simple Trust	59	(5)
Blind Trust	64	(4)
Trust and Reliance: The Mechanization of Trust	68	(4)
Whom Can You Trust?	72	(4)
Two Virtues: Trust and Trustworthiness	76	(4)
Conditional Trust	80	(3)
Beyond Competence	83	(3)
Trust as Medium: The Most Insidious Misunderstanding	86	(4)
Authentic Trust	90	(63)
From Simple Trust to Authentic Trust	92	(3)
Authentic Trust	95	(8)
Trust as Emotion	103	(5)
Trust as Mood	108	(6)
Trust as Background and as ``Medium''	114	(4)
Self-Trust, Self-Confidence	118	(5)
Knowing Self-Trust	123	(2)
Emotional Self-Trust	125	(3)
Breaches and Betrayals of Trust	128	(8)
Trust, Hope, and Forgiveness	136	(9)
Authentic Trust and Leadership: Disclosing New Worlds	145	(8)
Conclusion: Building Authentic Trust	153	(2)
Notes	155	(12)
Bibliography	167	(8)
Index	175