Deference to expertise builds trust...

As I mentioned in a post earlier this month ("The bullfrog is wise..."), I recently read The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by Admiral (retired) William McRaven.  Admiral McRaven is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) from August 8, 2011 to August 28, 2014.  Admiral McRaven is credited for organizing and overseeing the execution of Operation Neptune Spear, the special operations mission that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011. Following a very popular commencement address at his alma mater on May 17, 2014 (and of course after his retirement from the Navy), Admiral McRaven would go on to serve as the chancellor of The University of Texas System from 2015 to 2018.  I've posted about Admiral McRaven in the past (see "If you want to change the world, don't ever, ever ring the bell!", "Early morning brain teasers?!?!", and most recently, "The bullfrog is wise...").

Admiral McRaven has now written a number of short books on leadership.  Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World, which is based upon his 2014 commencement speech.  The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) is based on some of the lessons he learned during his more than 37 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL.  The title “Bullfrog” is given to the Navy SEAL who has served the longest on active duty.  Admiral McRaven was received this honor in 2011 (and held that distinction until his retirement in 2014).  

There's a short chapter in The Wisdom of the Bullfrog on trust.  Admiral McRaven starts every chapter in the book with a quotation from a great leader in history.  The chapter on trust starts off with a quotation from Abraham Lincoln, who said, "The people when rightly and fully trusted will return the trust."  I thought this was an interesting quote.  As it turns out, there are a few more quotations like this one.  The ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi (popularly known as Lao Tzu) said, "The one who does not trust enough, will not be trusted."  The American educator and author Booker T. Washington said, "Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him."  Finally, the American author Ernest Hemingway said, "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."

All of these quotes are supporting the High Reliability Organization concept of "Deference to Expertise".  The U.S. Navy SEALS undoubtedly qualify as a High Reliability Organization in my opinion.  By trusting team members to do the job, leaders are creating a virtuous cycle (see the "Trust Cycle" below) that engenders further trust.  "Deference to Expertise" creates mutual trust.

Admiral McRaven writes, "To be a great leader you must be trusted by your employees.  If they do not trust you, they will not follow you.  It takes time to build trust, but it is time well spent if you intend to lead effectively."  He suggests that leaders follow three key points to build trust:

1. Foster a culture of action, allowing the rank and file to take the initiative and fix problems that need addressing.

2. Accept the fact that this will lead to zealousness and the occasional screwup.  This overenthusiasm is better than a culture of inaction.

3. Praise those who attempt to solve the problems on their own, even if the results are not as expected.

All of this sounds a lot like "Deference to Expertise".  The second point above is all about creating conditions of psychological safety, so that team members feel empowered to take risks.  Even if they fail or merely make a mistake, they will learn as a result.  Empowerment leads to professional growth and development, which further builds psychological safety and trust.