The Speed of Trust

So, I am reading this book called "The Speed of Trust" by Stephen Covey (The son of the guy who wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.)  I would never have purchased this book, but since I discovered it in our belongings I decided to read it and am finding it quite interesting.  The basic premise is the importance of trust in getting things done.  High trust situations increase productivity and lower costs.  Low trust decreases productivity and increases costs... you get the idea.

I mention this because now that I have been made aware of the "Trust principle" I am seeing it everywhere I go.  Yesterday I experienced the text book example of this principle.   It was at the TN Dept. of Transportation and I was attempting to change my license from Arkansas to Tennessee.  As I walked in with my three pieces of mail to prove my residency, along with my passport, military ID, and valid Arkansas license I expected to have no trouble whatsoever getting my license.  BOY WAS I WRONG!!

Adorning the wall was a huge poster that stated the following

19 Terrorists
364 Aliases
26 State ID's
It only takes one.
Help stop terrorism.

So, I showed them my letter showing my name and address from the local community college. (An official institution).  They refused to accept it because the college didn't post a date on the letter.  The letter did however say "Congratulations, as of April 4 you have been accepted for admission for the FALL 2011 semester..."   But because I just might be a terrorist, this was not good enough for them.  So then I ask about the 2 other pieces of mail I had with my name and address.  These were not dated or official so no go.  Luke runs to the van to see what he can find.  He brings back our van registration and a prescription with our name and address on it, dated THIS MONTH.  The van registration only had Mark's name on it and was not acceptable.  The prescription was not on the approved list of acceptable documents.  By this time I was about to lose my witness as my friend Emily used to say.  In the end I had to drive the 10 miles back home and dig out the mortgage paperwork to our home that thankfully had my name on it as well as Mark's.  I grabbed the dated envelope from the college to show that the letter was indeed a recent piece of mail.  The lady reluctantly allowed me to get my license.

This was a classic example of LOW TRUST = HIGH COST (Time and man hours) and LOW PRODUCTIVITY.  (Ever wonder why you have to spend so much time at the DMV, now you know- LOW TRUST.)  Now don't get me wrong.  I want to do my part to stop terrorists!  Just point me to the last terrorist who was a 115 lb. white woman with five kids in tow (who also had a valid AR state ID, a valid military ID, and a valid US passport)who was merely trying to transfer her valid drivers license to her current state of residence.  Show me even one and I promise I will never complain about the TDOT again.  :-)