“What’s at stake here?” I asked. “You seem disturbed by this growing divide in your company, this sense of distrust. Though you may blame it on the economy, the seeds were sown long ago. You didn’t see them, but the trust between managers and team members has always been troublesome. That’s why there are so many consultants and books on management.”

Lindsey grinned. “So, what can I say? What can I do, as a Manager, to create a higher level of trust?”

“I want to drive this discussion deeper,” I started. “Because I am not sure if there is anything you can say that speaks louder than the managerial systems in your company.”

“What do you mean, managerial systems? I mean, I know what a system is. But, do you mean we have systems that create distrust?”

“It’s possible,” I nodded. “Many companies, with the best of intentions, create people systems that work against, precisely, what they are trying to achieve.”