Rebuild trust in a relationship

We’ve heard a lot about the Labour heartlands recently. From the cliches of Workington man to the red wall, Labour’s difficulties in what were once its industrial strongholds are well documented, and have featured prominently across the 2019 election coverage. A horde of London-based journalists, with their prior assumptions apparently already set in stone, has ventured out on rare journeys northwards in search of people prepared to back up those assumptions. Admittedly, they appear to have had little trouble in finding them. There is no doubt that Labour has real and entrenched problems in a good number of these areas. The typical narrative lays the blame for this at Jeremy Corbyn’s door, and that of his supporters: these detached young metropolitans, it is said, are too busy riding their own hobby horses to forge any possible connection with the residents of former industrial areas across the north, Midlands and Wales. In fact, the concerns that animate millennial … [Read more...] about Labour has problems in its ‘heartlands’ – but only grassroots work can rebuild trust

Source: public domain/Pexels If you've been betrayed or trust was broken, do you think your trust was misplaced in someone untrustworthy? Many people are unrealistic about trust. They assume the worst and are distrustful, or they overtrust and are easily taken in. People in the first category put up walls and keep others at a distance. The second group proudly claim to trust someone until they have reason not to. Then they’re shocked when they’ve relied on someone untrustworthy. In today’s mobile world, usually when we first meet someone, we don’t know anything about their integrity or past conduct, except what they tell us. Trustworthiness is proven over time by actions, not only by words. You can get hurt by believing what people say and ignoring their actions To be trustworthy, a person has to “walk their talk” – words and actions must be congruent. You also have to be able to trust your perceptions, a skill difficult for some … [Read more...] about To Trust or Mistrust. Do You Trust Too Much or Too Little?

"Employee Distrust is Pervasive in U.S. Workforce," was the headline from a recently released study by the American Psychological Association, where according to The 2014 Work and Well-Being Survey, "only half of workers believe their employer is open and upfront with them." With the magnitude of information coming at us 24/7/365, it's easy to miss studies like APA's that continue to punctuate high levels of distrust at work. Or miss the growing trend reported by the General Social Survey that "trust in the other fellow — has been quietly draining away." It's also easy to miss that the solution to rebuilding trust is within our grasp. As I discussed in Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture That Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation: "If you're someone's immediate boss, no matter your organizational level or business role, you can positively influence trust, commitment, engagement, and innovation. You can create your own Trust, Inc. – a trust-pocket, where … [Read more...] about The Common Sense Way to Build Trust and Engagement

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Arab Gulf leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for an annual summit that was intended to showcase their unity in the face of shared threats. But looming over the meeting were their frayed ties and heightened worries about Iran. For all their diverging views and interests, members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council share a common goal of stability in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping corridor that’s vital to their energy exports from the Persian Gulf. The GCC bloc is composed of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. Attacks blamed on Iran this summer, including a stunning missile and drone attack on a major Saudi crude processing facility, have rattled the region. Tensions in the Gulf between Tehran and Washington have also escalated sharply in recent months. “The Gulf region must unite in the face of Iran’s aggression and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council must … [Read more...] about Gulf leaders meet in Saudi Arabia under looming Iran threat

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The South Pacific islands of Bougainville should know the result of an independence referendum on Wednesday, officials said, amid expectations the province will soon be in a position to negotiate a separation from Papua New Guinea. The non-binding vote, held from Nov. 23 to Dec. 7, was part of a peace pact struck in the aftermath of a decade-long war between Bougainville’s rebel fighters and PNG forces that ended in 1998. Referendum Chairman Bertie Ahern said in a statement that around 85% of the 200,000 registered voters cast a ballot. “Voting has been in the spirit of the larger peace process, of which this referendum is just one part,” the former Irish prime minister said. The referendum gave voters registered in the island cluster a choice between independence and greater autonomy. While officials will not declare a winner, the vote will be used as part of negotiations set to occur between the Bougainville and PNG governments over their … [Read more...] about Bougainville independence referendum results set for release