About Trust

Lots of things are happening at work about which I may write later, but today I want to speak about trust.

I was a bit awestruck today while contemplating a simple action. My boss was mentioning that something needed to be done and I replied that I could do it for him. He said he would call on me if needed later.

When later came, he said, I'll need you to do that thing I mentioned earlier; I can't get anyone else to come through.

Maybe it was and is weird, but there is a form of high I get knowing that my boss can simply leave something in my hands and know that it's as good as done.

He left the office for vacation and not once did he call me or write me an email or ask for a report the way he would have a year ago. Not once did he question my work ethic. Not once did it seem to cross his mind to be concerned should something go wrong.

That feeling of knowing that I have his back and even more so that I've proven that to him in such a way that he can lean on that fact is so... unspeakably satisfying. I have his trust and I see that fact played out in the oddest places.

His friends notice me and go, "so you're the one" with glowing expressions; not knowing whether or no I would ever meet these people he hasn't hesitated to say the most positive things about me.

He speaks to me about his secret plans. His concerns. His aspirations and, most important to me, as my leader, he doesn't feel any hesitation in asking me for any kind of help he needs.

This is trust: my leader can leave things in my hands without a word and is genuinely surprised when they aren't better than he left them. He leaves me a task and takes a walk, goes home early, goes to grab lunch. It's automatic for him to feel comfortable leaving me to steward his things.

Just wow.