In a recent column about building character in young firefighters, I wrote that trust should be given to all members of the organization; that trust should be assumed unless violated. Trust should not have to be earned through popularity or individual achievement.
At least one reader took issue with this statement. He wrote, “It has been my experience that true trust is earned and not automatically achieved because you’re a member of an organization. Trust is earned through direct actions. Trust can only be assumed through a history of actions, by doing, not a title or position.”
I agree with this reader that trust is sacred and should never be taken for granted. This is especially true in work where others’ lives are literally in your hands. But, I disagree about the cause and effect when it comes to building trust.