The ClassROOM-The Endowment Of Trust In You
Down the ages of human history, what appears to be a virtue has been turned by humans to a 'social vice', which many will hardly want to share or talk about. Everyone one of us have been a victim at one point or another in the hands of close family members, intimate friends, respectable citizens of the society, especially those in positions of authority.Recent developments in financial system leaves much to be desired, as the media and government agencies reported the indictment and prosecution of 'respectable' banks' executives on the mis-management and mis-appropriation of depositors' funds. This has led to such banks been taken over and managed by the government as a rescue measure to sanitize the financial system,Customers' Trust in the banks affected has been betrayed.Suffice to state that the human society is marred by a lack of TRUST!! As noted in the outset of this article, many detest a conversation on this social virtue because it is widely believed that an individual who hardly can trust himself cannot trust another. A question that deserves our utmost attention is – IS TRUST HUMANLY POSSIBLE?
Before
delving deeply into the possibility or not of humans to be trustworthy,
let's first examine three possible causes of why humans in general has
fallen short of this virtue.
GREED
Greed is excessiveness in want and need,the incredible tendency to get
results that are favorable to companies or individuals even at the
detriment of values and ethics''.We live in a world where material
wealth and affluence is celebrated without recourse to it's source,this
alone propels people to live over and above their legitimate means in
order to fit into this viscous cycle
.
SUCCESS AT ALL COST
delving deeply into the possibility or not of humans to be trustworthy,
let's first examine three possible causes of why humans in general has
fallen short of this virtue.
GREED
Greed is excessiveness in want and need,the incredible tendency to get
results that are favorable to companies or individuals even at the
detriment of values and ethics''.We live in a world where material
wealth and affluence is celebrated without recourse to it's source,this
alone propels people to live over and above their legitimate means in
order to fit into this viscous cycle
.
SUCCESS AT ALL COST
The general saying that
''I must make it anyhow'' oftentimes propels people to cut corners in getting to
the top,this is further amplified by the saying that the end justifies
the means.'' Even though promises are made to follow a strict code of
values after the attainment of success,ethical values are at a low ebb
in our modern society. People are bent on getting up the ladder of
success at all cost even if compromising values are involved.
PRACTICES INCONSITENT WITH VALUES-
the top,this is further amplified by the saying that the end justifies
the means.'' Even though promises are made to follow a strict code of
values after the attainment of success,ethical values are at a low ebb
in our modern society. People are bent on getting up the ladder of
success at all cost even if compromising values are involved.
PRACTICES INCONSITENT WITH VALUES-
The beauty of trust is
in consistence with acceptable values.Most times clashes occur when
sacrifices are to be made in order to stay in tune with core
values.When this happens,we seldom jettison our beliefs,often forgo
laid down norms and tow the line which best guarantees our interest
even if they don't necessarily conform with our ethics.
Consider this- experiments conducted by Michael Kosfeld, a professor of
business administration at the Frankfurt University in Germany, led him
to the conclusion that Trust is ''a biologically-based part of human nature.''
in consistence with acceptable values.Most times clashes occur when
sacrifices are to be made in order to stay in tune with core
values.When this happens,we seldom jettison our beliefs,often forgo
laid down norms and tow the line which best guarantees our interest
even if they don't necessarily conform with our ethics.
Consider this- experiments conducted by Michael Kosfeld, a professor of
business administration at the Frankfurt University in Germany, led him
to the conclusion that Trust is ''a biologically-based part of human nature.''
Kosfeld discovered that when there is interaction between two
people, the human brain releases oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates
Trust. ''it is, in fact, one of the distinguishing features of the
human species, '' Kosfeld states. ''when trust is absent, we are, in a
sense, dehumanized'.
Simply put: without trust, a person is not worthy of being a human.
An airport cab driver who plies his trade at
people, the human brain releases oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates
Trust. ''it is, in fact, one of the distinguishing features of the
human species, '' Kosfeld states. ''when trust is absent, we are, in a
sense, dehumanized'.
Simply put: without trust, a person is not worthy of being a human.
An airport cab driver who plies his trade at
The Muritala InternationalAirport in Ikeja, Lagos once returned a briefcase
containing several hundreds of thousands of dollars left in his cab by a foreign expatriate,
It took him three days to track the owner but he persisted
and did the right thing.
Food For Thought:
How many of us will do such?
Trust, though apparently a rare quality in the world today, is within the reach ofFood For Thought:
How many of us will do such?
EVERYONE!. When this virtue becomes part of you, other virtues
associated are naturally displayed, such as- honesty, integrity,
fidelity, faithfulness and so on.
Trust will make you stand out amongst your peers.
It will make you become the sort after worker/labor by
employers of labor worldwide. It will earn you friendship you've never
imagine to have in Life. It will boost your ego and moral. It will
unleash upon you confidence like you never had. It will enrich your
life with joy and satisfaction. Reason why today, corporate firms,
social institutions, and even individuals are named after this virtue
or use it as there slogans/pay-off. As highlighted in the outset,
though some bank's have failed there customers, few bank's are noted
locally and in the international community to have retained the TRUST
and 'INTEGRITY' of there customers. We are proud to have such
institution/s making the theory of Kosfeld above true in their
respective cases.
Imagine a world filled with trustworthy individuals- No need to be in
fear when you leave your wallet or purse behind in a store or market,
when you remember that you did not lock up your car's doors at the
park. The financial system locally and globally will be strengthened
out of customers' TRUST and CONFIDENCE', resulting in a very strong and
viable financial world! Much heartache and associated ills will
drastically reduce, resulting in an increased life-expectancy for us
ALL!!. So, never underestimate your ability to develop this great
virtue of TRUST!! By learning to cultivate and manifest Trust in your
life, you are positioning yourself for greatness and success!!! Be
TRUSTWORTHY Today!!!
Regards,
