In principle, when making good group decisions we try to get all the facts and fully understand before deciding. Yet it’s impossible to understand every detail, every nuance, every possibility, and that’s where trust takes over.
We work to understand as much as we can, but at some point we just need to trust our intuition, other people, and the process. It’s called faith.
For the rational person, the path to resolution is mostly paved with understanding, with a bit of trust at the end. The rational person wants as much evidence as possible. For the intuitive person, the path to resolution begins with a bit of understanding and then trust paves most of the rest of the way. Going mostly on gut feeling is very comfortable. For all of us, truly good decisions require some combination of understanding and trust.
Practical Tip: Work on both, understanding and trust. To understand: Gather the facts, hear all perspectives, review best practices, read, apply trial and error, listen to your heart. To build trust: Do things together, eat together, demonstrate honesty and dependability, support each other through hardships, tell stories, share pictures of your loved ones.
Answer as many questions as you can but at some point you have to decide even without every answer and it comes down to trust.
– Craig Freshley
Click here for one-page PDF of this Tip, a great way to print or share.
I like this tip (Trust Takes Over) because it has helped me realize that in our team-building situation at work we need to do a bit more of the trust-building exercises. Although ropes courses are not common in Germany, we will be having a retreat for a couple of days, during which we’ll talk (and eat) together about future projects. Perhaps more trust will be created for us intuitive people.
I like the reference to different personality types and how groups should be prepared to deal with all types rather than try to treat everyone like a machine.
A very good tip; this should help groups move past “analysis paralysis.”
I always enjoy your helpful tips. . . thanks for this nice reminder of the importance of faith and trust.
This is so true and well put. I find that when I feel most lost is when I’m not trusting my intuition and having faith in the process. When I feel most relieved is when I say: I’m where I’m meant to be to learn something.
I have a favorite prayer that helps me:
I’m learning Lord to understand, that every change entrusted to Your care becomes and exciting opportunity to watch You work Your creative will. Whatever You touch turns into something beautiful.
It’s when I trust in a power so much greater than myself that I feel so excited to see what will flow through me and others for the highest good. I find the power of that TRUST works for me. Thanks for the reminder.