Creating a circle of safety by building trust
There is a direct correlation between neuroscience, body chemistry and trust. This is something I first learned in university. More recently, I read a piece in the Harvard Business Journal quoting Paul J. Zak where he explained the phenomenon.
“… there is a direct correlation between the amount of oxytocin a person's brain produces and the level of trust they feel in any given situation. He also found a direct link between oxytocin levels and empathy which is essential for creating trust-based relationships and trust-based organizations. The higher the oxytocin, the higher the empathy. The higher the empathy, the deeper the connection.”*
That really made sense to me and it struck me that what we have been doing at Walden to create an atmosphere of well being and high trust is the right course to follow.
These times especially require elevated trust levels among all of us in our community. Our very welfare and health depends on creating a circle of safety and the only way we can do that is to rely upon teachers, staff, parents and students to work together for the common good. And, we are so fortunate that this has been our experience.
At the same time we recognize a responsibility to guide our students by modelling behaviours and teaching how trust is created and sustained.
My approach is to follow six steps.
Show compassion: It’s really important to treat people with kindness and take the time to genuinely hear their concerns.
Show vulnerability: We don’t have all the answers and that’s OK. What matters is that we acknowledge our need to learn more, to listen more, and to make sure we always show a willingness to change and adapt.
Show competence: While all the time avoiding the pitfall of arrogance, it really helps to convey that you actually do know what you’re doing. That creates confidence in people and when our students, their parents and our teachers show a willingness to mentor and coach that’s a powerful building block in creating a culture of trust.
Show interest: It’s pretty easy, when your day is full of challenges, crises and even the normal humdrum of life, to be brusque and dismissive. What’s most rewarding though is when we take the time to find common ground, to learn from each other and we so often see our kids teaching each other simply because they’re curious about what their classmate is doing.
Showing consistency: Do what you say you’re going to do…always! Provide clarity around expectations and take accountability for the outcome.
Show care: Mutually support each other to improve and encourage everyone to explicitly and evidently show how very much we all benefit when we care for each other.
I know we are in a privileged position at Walden because our parent community entrusts to us the care and education of their children.
Thank you. The deep connection we have together is a large part of what contributes to our ability to make good people.