Executive Director
MASA
During a recent meeting of the Aspiring Superintendents Group, the participants delved into a valuable resource that I believe warrants your attention: “The Thin Book of Trust” by Charles Feltman. If you haven’t had the chance to explore this book yet, I highly recommend considering it for a potential book study with your team or school board. Filled with practical insights, it offers a quick yet profound read on the critical topic of building trust.
Stephen Covey, in his review of the book, aptly notes that trust forms the bedrock of everything we do, emerging as a key leadership competency in our evolving global economy.
Feltman delineates four essential distinctions of trust: care, sincerity, reliability, and competence. To briefly summarize, sincerity shines through when our words align with our actions; reliability assures that promises are kept; demonstrating care underscores our shared commitment; and competence assures that we have the necessary skills, or are willing to learn them.
Each of these distinctions is accompanied by examples to facilitate a “trust check” for ourselves, guiding us on how to align our words and actions. I am confident that exploring these concepts will provide your team or board with a framework to foster trust among yourselves and those you serve.
Moreover, the book offers valuable insights into managing situations where trust may be lacking within your organization, often stemming from misinformation or misunderstandings. It seems that the wisdom shared by Feltman is particularly relevant in our current landscape.
At MASA, we aspire to embody these principles of trust: sincerity, reliability, care, and competence. Your trust in us is paramount, and we are committed to continuously improving our support for you and all our members. Please do not hesitate to share your feedback if you feel we can enhance our services in any way.
Thank you for entrusting us with your professional growth and the success of our organization.
