Top 10 Trust Killers

It's so difficult to build trust and so easy to tear it down.  Do you think about the various things others do that cause you to doubt?

I wrote a post yesterday that ran on Smartblog on Leadership entitled 11 Ways to Build Trust Within Your Team.  If you get a chance, check it out for a positive spin on building trust.

However, if you're the type that likes to consider the negative side of an issue, here are some of the initial ideas I had for easy ways to kill trust.  See what you think.

Top 10 Trust Killers:

10. Practice creative paranoia.  Remember, you’re not paranoid if they really are out to get you.
9. Make commitments to get others to do something.  Choose what you do based on how you feel at any given moment.
8. When someone suggests an idea, show them everything that’s wrong with it.  They’ll love you for speaking the truth.
7. Point out the mistakes of others.  “Hey, they can’t get better if they don’t know where to improve!”
6. Take credit for every good thing that happens on your team.
5. Keep score on who drops the ball and remind frequently.
4. When your leaders ask about a mistake that was made, make sure and let them know which team member made the mistake.
3. Change your mind frequently with little reason or input.
2. Speak in vague terms.  If they go off and make a mistake based on their misunderstanding, that’s they’re fault.
1. Look out for Number 1. Let’s face it, no one is more important than you. You’re at the center of the universe. If you don’t look out for yourself, who will. So make sure you get yours. After that, you’re free to try to be fair to others.

OK, so now it's your turn.  What would you add?  Take a shot below and come up with any that you think I've missed.

Photo from Dilbert by Scott Adams (c) 2011