As promised in my podcast, this is the action plan with behaviors 1-13 and here’s an excerpt, along with the action plan, so you can figure out what needs to be done intrinsically.
In the beginning of this 13 behaviors section, I used a personal challenge for you to make this material highly relevant and actionable by identifying two relationships — one professional and one in personal — in which you wanted to build trust. I said that at the end of the section, I would give you the opportunity to look back, determine which two or three behaviors would make the greatest difference, and create an action plan to create change.
Well, here we are. If you didn’t do it before, I encourage you to do it now. This is where you can make decisions that will build trust, that will transform taxes into dividends, that will improve your relationships with two people, and — geometrically — with many others, as well.
Many people find it helpful to use a chat such as this one below. If this approach works for you, I suggest you start with one relationship. Go over the behaviors. Mark on the continuum where you think you are now with regard to each one. Then go back and circle the two or three behaviors that you feel will make the greatest positive difference.
Identify one or two next steps for each of those behaviors to create change. You may want to use one of the Trust Tips at the end of each chapter, or you may come up with something that will work better in your situation. The key is to make the steps actionable and to make and keep a commitment to yourself to do them.
Then go back and do the same for the second relationship you chose.
As you create your plan, keep in mind that the quickest way to make a withdrawal is to violate a behavior or character; the quickest way to make a deposit is to demonstrate a behavior of competence. This may help you in determining how to most quickly build trust in your situation.
If you prefer to use a different approach to implementation, that’s fine. However, you may still want to look at the chart. It will give you an overview of all 13 Behaviors, including their opposites and counterfeits. It’s a good way to capture a vision of the way high-trust leaders interact with others.
Stephen Covey
| Behavior | Current Performance | Opposite/ Counterfeit |
| Talk Straight | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Lie, spin, tell half truths |
| Demonstrate Respect | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Don’t care or don’t show you care. |
| Create Transparency | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Withhold information; keep secrets; |
| Right Wrongs | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Don’t admit or repair mistakes |
| Show Loyalty | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Sell others out; take the credit yourself |
| Deliver Results | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Fail to deliver on activities. |
| Get Better | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Deteriorate; don’t invest in improvement |
| Confront Reality | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Bury your head in the sand; focus on busywork |
| Clarify Expectations | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Assume expectations or don’t disclose them. |
| Practice Accountability | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Don’t take responsibility. |
| Listen First | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Don’t listen; speak first, listen last. |
| Keep Commitments | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Break commitments; violate promises. |
| Extend Trust | ___/____/____/____/____/ | Withhold trust; fake trust and then snoopervise. |
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