A Tamarind Tree of Trust™

The Necessity Of Trust

Like oxygen, trust is intangible yet certainly vital. Remove it, and relationships suffocate. Social fabrics disintegrate. We also need trust in order to lead and be led by others—it’s a necessary force for connection. A study by Gallup found that leaders who are trusted by their employees can engage as much as half of them at work. Meanwhile, an absence of trust causes this number to drop to one in 12 employees [1].

Consequently, trust is the lowest functioning denominator of our societies. The profusion of oxygen provides explosive potential. Similarly, when trust flows, it enables us to rapidly bounce back from global catastrophes like COVID-19 [2]. In abundance, we can ignite collaboration. Thus, to nurture a participative citizenry [3], to build a citizen-centric public service, to tighten our social compact [4], we must continue fostering trust. 

A Typology of Community & Citizenry Trust

Historically, much has been written about trust within corporate settings, with a paucity in community contexts. Gleaning from our insights in community work over the last decade, we propose a simple Community Trust Scale™ that flows from Dependent to Relational Trust (Exhibit A).

In maturing and developed economies like ours, the presence of Dependent and Transactional Trust is almost premised. In our current global context, however, we suggest that shifting citizenry expectations, progressive polarisation of communities and increasing transnational friction necessitate a gravitation towards Relational Trust. We believe that forward-thinking and proactive leaders that lean into this shift will position their communities, organisations and nations for resistance and resilience viz. future uncertainties.

The Nature of Trust

At Skillseed, we often (jokingly) introduce ourselves by clarifying that we are not an agricultural company, though we plant seeds of skill and change in our communities. Indulging our farming fantasies momentarily however, we imagine ourselves to be not a traditional manicured plantation, but a regenerative food forest - an edible landscape comprising trees, shrubs and vegetation layers that grows with and restores nature. Clearly, one cannot immediately reap the benefits of a food forest without first carefully tending to the soil and nurturing the various plant layers. 

Similarly, we can’t pour trust out of a sachet.  To cultivate Relational Trust, we must therefore intentionally and patiently labour at its drivers [5,6]: dignity, authenticity, empathy, shared power, and a strength-oriented approach (sharing power and an asset-based approach contribute to dignity) . These concepts may seem familiar, simple, perhaps even pedestrian. But that does not mean that they are simplistic. How might we consider them pragmatically and synergistically in growing Relational Trust, towards the transformation of our relationships, communities and nation?

A Tamarind Tree of Trust™

In nature, trees are a keystone species. The roots, trunk, branches and leaves nourish and provide critical support to a host of other lifeforms that altogether compose a forest. In urban Singapore, trees are an important element of our streetscape that provide a multitude of benefits. 

Likewise, we envisage Relational Trust as a tree. A living structure that spans vertical, horizontal and temporal dimensions, unlocking all the other aspects of community building and partnerships. A tree that first has its roots deeply anchored in the ground, thus providing a sound foundation, before its crown extends outwards in connection with others.  Not just any tree, however, but the Tamarind Tree. 

Grown throughout the tropics, the Tamarind Tree is likely familiar to many of us. Its piquant juicy pulp - or Asam - is an important feature of many dishes we are familiar with. Whether manifested as Asam Pedas, Imli chutney, Mee Siam, Worcestershire Sauce, Curry Fish Head or 潮洲蒸鱼, Asam reminds us of home, or perhaps more intimately, Grandma’s cooking. And few things speak of trust like Grandma does. 

Here, we outline a holistic model (Exhibit B) that integrates the mentioned Relational Trust drivers and more with partnerships and community engagement concepts that will engender this evolution of our communities and citizenry.

Roots:  Foundational Concepts That Anchor - Roots anchor. Though largely unseen, they provide a critical foundation to the entire tree architecture and feed the entire plant. Likewise, frameworks in this category relate to our oft hidden mindsets and paradigms that govern our actions. They also provide a firm bedrock to ground our practice in building communities of deep trust. Our Human-centred Leadership and Community Engagement (HLCE) tools, expanded upon below, thus form the core of this rhizosphere.  

Frameworks here comprise: Emotional Awareness, Dignity, Mindsets™: Dependent to Relational, Stereotypes™, Scarcity Mindsets (Level 1), Collaborative Power and Spheres of Influence. A newly added one is RIR™, a retrospective that combines two useful frameworks for debriefs and AARs, experienced reflectivley and reflexively, as well as individually and collectively.

Shoots: Bridging Concepts That Spread Trust - Shoots connect. They comprise the main stem (or trunk in the case of trees), branches and leaves that constitute the observable parts of a tree. Shoots therefore provide structure, linkages and form. 

Similarly, the tools here expand our repertoire and help to bridge the fundamentals to more advanced methodologies. They offer us practical handles for engaging our stakeholders with dignity, empathy and empowerment.  As connectors, these frameworks have diverse applications, and can be experienced alone or stacked with the Root Modules.    

Frameworks here include: Empathy Mapping, Intentional Listening, Effective Facilitation, Scarcity Mindsets (Level 2), Asset-based Community Development (ABCD), and the Citizen Library™ (practicum).

Fruits: Fruits: Seeding A Virtuous Cycle - Fruits yield. They have their origins in flowers, which were designed to mix and cross pollinate. Fruits are thus the botanical acme of collaboration. These are therefore the togethering-instruments to reach for, to bring our partnerships to fruition. 

Frameworks here include: Influencing with Empathy, Stakeholder Engagement, Relational Communication Competencies™ (both Discord Prevention RRAAA™ and Discord Resolution AAARR™), Thriving Teams, User-centred Design for Social Impact and the Community Canvas. Of course, our flagship Resilience Trails™, an experiential practicum component also falls under this Fruits sphere. 

Practising and applying the concepts of the Tamarind Tree of Trust™, whether stacked in totality, or as topical applications, will foster an increased sense of cohesion, ownership and deep trust in our communities. 

In Exhibit C, we outline a schema that illustrates how this maps with the Head, Heart & Hands, as well as other participative models. For a granular navigation of each tool’s nuances and applications, we invite you to explore this site and our upcoming refreshed Client Kit (Akan datang!).   

Trusting Forward

We are constantly experimenting and innovating as we learn from our communities and partnerships. If you found this useful and would like to keep a pulse of future developments, please follow our socials or reach out via email. We are currently brewing three related projects: A Community and Citizenry Trust Audit, a Trust Roadmap and a Community Trust Canvas. Stay tuned for more!    

May we build communities of deep trust and collaboration together.       

Footnotes:

[1] Brian J. Brim, 7 Oct 2021. Strengths-Based Leadership: The 4 Things Followers Need. Gallup.

[2] PM Lee, 24 Apr 2022. Trust a”most precious resource” critical in Singapore’s COVID-19 Response. The Straits Times online article.

[3] Ang, H.S and Soon, S. 2021. Transformation in the Public Service, Emerging Stronger From The Pandemic. Ethos Issue 22.

[4] DPM and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong at the 2022 May Day Rally. CNA Article: 4G team to develop 'Forward Singapore' agenda, setting out roadmap for next decade and beyond: Lawrence Wong.

[5] Zenger J. and Folkman, J. 2019. The 3 Elements of Trust. HBR Article.

[6] Frei, X.F. and Morriss, A.   2020. Begin With Trust. HBR Article.

Since 2018, Skillseed has had the honor of being engaged to train senior Public Servants (Director level and above) in citizen engagement and community co-creation skills in the Engagement Immersion for Leaders (EIL) Course offered at the Civil Service College (CSC). Through EIL, our Skillseed Trainers have trained over 300 civil servants (and counting) from across the Public Service. Read on for a testimonial from one of our participants from our inaugural cohort of senior public servants!

I was one of the eight participants for the inaugural cohort of the Engagement Immersion for Leaders (EIL) programme, and would like to commend the team on designing one of the most engaging classes I have ever attended in recent times!

I did not even check my emails during classtime over the entire two days, simply because the trainers were excellent in keeping the class engaged at all times, with activities (they do real life improv which cracks the class up), have relevant case studies (QR codes to access public materials on our mobiles, and these were real articles on social media), and planned loads of activities with almost no downtime. Time really passes by...but we had a lot of fun participating in the various activities, and the simple exercise of engaging nearby residents was enlightening and thought-provoking.

I thought what really works was that the facilitators were practitioners, and their delivery was just so sincere and earnest. They were also very open about their fears and concerns about handling a senior group of officers, so it helped to humanise the approach (as opposed to some trainers who put on SME hats and tend to ‘teach’). The level of engagement in the class was just amazing. Clara could attest to the laughter and energy in the room as she was an observer of the class, and it was not easy to keep the energy up for the entire two days.

I am looking forward to the attachments, and I hope the rest of the CSC Directors attending subsequent runs of this programme learnt as much as I have.

- Participant in “Engagement Immersion for Leaders Programme” for Civil Service Leaders (Director level and above), Civil Service College

WE EQUIP LEADERS ACROSS ALL SECTORS AND ALL LEVELS

From teachers to youths, government officers to corporate stewards, and even fellow social sector peers and volunteers, Skillseed helps stakeholders across all sectors become more impactful, relational, and ultimately, trusted in their various capacities and communities.

Inquire about what we can do for you today!