JumpStart National Jell-O Week (2/10/25)

QUOTE:  "Politeness is the art of choosing among one's real thoughts." (Abel Stevens)

MESSAGE:  Manners are a good thing.

But what happens if you belong to a community where the politeness is just a facade?  It probably means there’s a trust issue.

Trust is one of the biggest indicators of a community’s health and quality of leadership. In fact, DDI World (global leadership firm) named 2024 ‘The Year of Trust’. Harvard Business blog claims that, “trust is one of the most vital forms of capital a leader has.”  I wrote about how to build trust back in September.

One of the hallmarks of a lack of trust in any kind of system or community (could be a family, social organization, or at work) is when there is fear or loyalty so that people pretend that there is trust.  You know, the ‘corporate nod’, the ‘yes, dear!’ or the ‘just smile and wave, boys’ aphorism.  This is called Cordial Hypocrisy. It’s when the external show doesn’t match what going on inside.  

In communities, there can be several tells:  

• people dragging feet when new ideas for change come around
• when there’s a lot of talk in the faculty lounge or during team meetings on everything EXCEPT the elephant in the room
• when people aren’t willing to challenge the status quo by giving or receiving honest feedback.  

Building trust happens with small moments, not in one big event.  Banishing cordial hypocrisy takes all those moments of building trust PLUS changing the culture to one of transparency and pride.

This week, try this:  Do you belong to a school or family that practices cordial hypocrisy?  Be the first to break out by using your words.  Speak up and give the fear, shame, misplaced loyalty some light and air.  Let the cleansing begin!

DAD JOKE:  Apparently this weekend, there will be constant rane, hale, drissle, thundre, and frizzing cold.  Just a really bad spell of weather.