Praise for Built on Trust "Built on Trust is a gem . . . a powerful and distinct contribution because it integrates our highest human aspirations with organizational and management effectiveness. . . . Every lesson learned here will last and inform a lifetime." -- Paul Hawken, founder, Smith & Hawken, and author of Growing a Business and Ecology of Commerce "The timing for Built on Trust is perfect. Just as the Net is transforming virtually every aspect of business and personal life, it is also fundamentally redefining the notions of trust and loyalty. As the authors suggest: We're just at the beginning of an incredible revolution, and there isn't a moment to waste!" -- Eric Schmidt, CEO, Novell, Inc. "The principles of trust and commitment have become part of the very framework that makes Women.com the company we are today. We talk openly with each other about issues and risks that we all face. The result is an open, decentralized organization where people support each other through an incredible bond of camaraderie and friendship. The Trust Model works and belongs in every modern organization and system." -- Marleen McDaniel, chairperson and CEO, Women.com "Built on Trust is a PhD in getting fellow humans to cooperate instead of fight in order to get what every organization wants: success. I've used their methods in five of my companies to happy results." -- Dan Lynch, founder, Interop, Lynch Enterprises "Uplifting, yet hard-headed. Practical advice for creating high performance organizations." -- Michael Rothschild, president and CEO, Maxager Technology, Inc., and author of Bionomics "If you want to improve the speed and quality of execution in your company, read Built on Trust. The winners in today's business world will be the ones who can execute superior business strategies better and faster . . . a surefire process for doing exactly that. Use it or lose." -- Dan Thomas, president, Focus, and author of Business Sense Long before "values" and "character" became the dominant themes in presidential politics, a handful of business leaders discovered that ultimate success or failure was largely determined by the way they treated their stakeholders. In Built on Trust , Silicon Valley consultants Arthur Ciancutti and Thomas Steding contend that conscious creation of a true values-based enterprise--stemming directly from an open and honest environment of mutual trust--will produce the kind of effective and enduring competitive advantage that popular "management programs du jour" never could. With the help of two fictional companies that employ different operational philosophies, the authors show exactly how such an approach might work and how it can be put into place appropriately in various corporate settings. The centerpiece of their plan is the flexible Trust Model, which addresses both individual and organizational needs. Ciancutti and Steding detail its implementation from creation to buy-in and maintenance. They also include specific objectives and helpful tools, including a self-assessment questionnaire along with step-by-step directions. This easily absorbed book fully describes the formulation of a program that can realistically reflect the beliefs and needs of an organization. It also shows that the organization can continue to meet the program's individualized guidelines over the long haul. -- Howard Rothman "Authentic trust can transform the work experience . . . and give you a competitive advantage you couldn't get any other way." -- From the Introduction to Built on Trust Imagine arriving at work tomorrow morning and discovering that your employees have stopped gossiping and started speaking up about their ideas and concerns, completing tasks on time, and conducting productive meetings. Sound like a dream? This is the reality at leadership organizations around the world. When people trust one another, the negative energy generated by their fear, frustration, and suspicion turns into a positive force for innovation, growth, and change. The authors of Built on Trust invite you to start building your culture of trust today based on their simple, time-tested Trust Model. Results will follow quickly. The authors have discovered that people are willing to trust once explicit guidelines are in place. If the Trust Model is followed faithfully, your organization will become more innovative and self-starting. Your rewards are: Greater efficiency self-regulation - Inspired performance from loyal teams - Increased capacity for a wide range of ideas - Deeper meaning and stronger relationships - Enduring competitive advantage Built on Trust helps you wade through muck, the frustration and anxiety that are part of too many working relationships. You'll be given the clues to muck, insight into its causes, and detailed advice on how to turn this sludge into fertilizer. You will be able to design guidelines for a trust culture that supports your values and mission. Based on two simple but essential co