Trust But Verify

In the workplace, there's often uncertainty and even anxiety, with regard to how someone should ask someone else about an assignment they are working on.  Or more specifically, when that assignment will be completed (assuming they haven't been told).

The thing is, most people are extremely sensitive to seeming rude or worse yet - mistrustful - if they ask their colleague, let alone a boss, about the status of their work. Even if it impacts their own work. After all, they don't want to imply that that person isn't working, or won't get it done. They just want to know what's going on, and when things will get done. Sounds fair enough, right? But it causes anxiety, on both sides of the equation.

So what's the remedy. Well, embrace a simple yet powerful agreement/philosophy: Trust But Verify.

If everyone in the office works under the Trust But Verify mantra, than everyone is covered: The person doing the work in question knows they are trusted from the get-go, but that they also need to let those that matter, and those that might ask, know when the assignment will get done. And the ones doing the asking get absolved from seeming mistrustful, because the policy clearly states that trust is the foundation to the relationship. So if they have to ask, for whatever reason - don't take it personally.

To be clear though, this Trust But Verify mantra only works if both sides live up to their end of the deal.

Not only does it work, it's the foundation for great teamwork. Try it.

Trust But Verify Is Good.