Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality - ll
Integrity Component # 2: Being Oriented Towards Truth
Review
Week one was the introduction. We discussed why character matters and what we can do to see our character (or “the wake”). This week is discussion about the first of six dimensions of character. The first dimension: Establishing Trust.
Establishing Trust
Trust is established through Connection, through Extending Favor (or grace) and through Vulnerability. Let’s take a look at Connection. It is not simply being able to “hit it off� or making people laugh and smile (page 51). It is leaning into someone’s reality and tuning into what the other experiences, feels and thinks. Note: empathy/understanding is always a leader’s responsibility (page 52).
Trust is about the heart.
Heart, Desire, Passion all go together: without one you cannot have the heart. When you lead (and all Christian’s lead) you are asking for their heart. Connection = the experience by one person that another is invested in him or her (page 57). What he/she feels and experiences matters. Connection must be done in a way that the other can experience. Empathy (page fifty-eight) is understanding/connecting → being right. And even if I understand, it makes no difference if they don’t understand that I understand (page 60). For a good picture, see p age 61. What is a Trust Killer? Invalidation (page 68).
Extending Favor (grace)
Trust means to be careless. We’re asking people to, on some level, turn over some of their care for themselves to us! Here’s an example: the organization that did more than needed for their personnel (page 77). A person of good character is often called “fair� but take a look at what fair means (page 82). Extending favor is giving with grace while minding boundaries!
Vulnerable
If we are not vulnerable, we’ll come across as unable to be identified with (page 88).