Story:
Trust is simple when it is human

José Rivero is the director of a small company in São Paulo - the heart of the Brazilian Economy. Less than 20 people share the office space in a very frantic atmosphere where sales and transactions happen all day long. Tradaq is a company that plays the broker in a multi lateral barter network where clients use the company’s database for promoting businesses – buying and selling.

The emotional tone is at limits now and then – mainly due to the personal sacrifice of additional hours at the office so that goals may be met, and commissions enriched. What could be for certain the portrait of a stressed relationship with traits of antagonism in a demanding situation for results is not the case. What we see is the situation of a trusted leader that ensures space and freedom for his team to play.

As a Mexican having studied abroad with a Master in Economics, Rivero has chosen to settle a business in Brazil after a couple of years working in Investment banks in Rio de Janeiro. Moving to São Paulo was just another well thought step as a young entrepreneur. His company – Tradaq is a leading player in the barter segment of goods and services.

There is nothing very different in the open space where busy agents use their computer terminals and headset phones  - except for a pair of screens given each one that enables better visualization of the work and to manage two to three different windows simultaneously. This is just something of what Jose Rivero values in his company. A fanatic for technology, he provides tools and systems that makes his team more productive – without having to micro manage the day to day operation.

Just like a soccer team, there is a captain among the players. But even though the hierarchical chart points for a middle manager, the setting is more of people playing than people working. And don’t get me wrong please – just recently a special one day seminar was done promoting David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” for the whole staff. And that meant  shutting down the office for a normal working Friday.

If you visit the office just before lunch time, you may well go out with José and some of his employees. Of course now and then, some specific worry make be brought to the table, but as they eat a salad or an Arabian fish – it’s politics, Hollywood, literature and of course, soccer that happens to be the main dish. This informal Socratean style to keep the team together and show himself very human and special, just came about - naturally. It's the way the guy is. It was not intended to be that way. Or – putting it in other words: it’s José living fully in his human characteristic.

Tradaq holds every year, outside São Paulo, a meeting with the staff for planning and evaluation. Each employee has to be there – and the family goes along. There is no special MC or planned social play. Things come about very naturally – either drinking wine by the fireplace or a small crowd playing and watching backgammon.

Outside help, in the hands of two consultants is much more for generating, keeping and upgrading a culture that values systemic thinking and is in touch of innovative initiatives. It happens every now and then to address via email or calling for a quick meeting, to show videos and articles found in the web. We can well say that this exchange of knowledge flows naturally.

Is there a formula to build trust? I would say that there is no chance to create it if it’s not a natural emphasis. People must see that their leaders do value the person – and not just the employee. And that this kind of principle is present daily and consistently, permeating the culture of the organization to a more human environment.