Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus decision making

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Aug 5, 2008, at 10:29 AM, Racheli Gai wrote:

> I think that a high level of trust is a precondition for high level of
> delegation

But what is trust? And what is it based on? Is it well placed? How is  
this measured?

Trust based on experience that a team or a person has made decisions  
or carried out responsibilities effectively in the past is what I call  
"trust."

I often hear people say they "trust" so-and-so when what they really  
mean is that they don't want to be bothered. Let someone else do it.  
This may be a perfectly effective decision but it isn't trust. It's  
lack of  interest.

"Trust" is used by others to mean "Do it my way." If they are  
questioned, they respond, "You don't trust me."

My response is, "Well, no, I don't. There is no evidence that you can  
do this job or that you care about how it effects other people. It  
doesn't mean you can't do that, but you aren't giving me any  
assurances, much less evidence."

The downside to the concept of trust is that is used as a  
justification for bad delegation.

And as evidence of a pure soul, "I trust therefore I am kind and  
loving and good." They carry signs, I trust!

(You can tell how trusting I am this morning.)

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing,Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org