Five Lessons We Can Learn from Toyota

Today’s reading is alternately titled “Five Lessons We Can Learn from Toyota”.  In this piece Roberta Chinsky Matuson, founder of Human Resource Solutions, reflects on how you rebuild trust after you’ve made huge mistakes.  She provides five lessons that can be learned from Toyota’s current problems: 

1.  When you make a mistake, own it the moment you realize something is not right.  If you are honest, from that first moment, you will likely be forgiven.

2.  Take responsibility for the mistake.  This means that you use the “I” word.  Blaming inanimate objects like an organization or your team won’t cut it.

3.  Commit to make things right and then do so.  Be transparent in your process.

4.  Redefine expectations.  Be clear about what can be expected from you in the future.

5.  Do what you say you are going to do.  Keep your commitment.

As you give more thought to the overall subject of trust, remember that trust is based on a mutual commitment to a shared vision.  Without trust, there isn’t much foundation for any relationship.

.  .  .  .  .     jim