Martin Luther King, Jr. on Trust In a New Era There Must be New Thinking

Communication: The Path to Trust Keeping people together in a team depends upon open channels of communication between the people and their leaders. Keeping people together in a team depends upon open channels of communication between the people and their leaders. During serious discussions, ask questions, try not to take sides, let everyone debate and discuss --- and then attempt to arrive at consensus. During serious discussions, ask questions, try not to take sides, let everyone debate and discuss --- and then attempt to arrive at consensus.

Consultation with Others Winning allies is more difficult in the absence of facts. Winning allies is more difficult in the absence of facts. Life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony. Life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony. Create a committee that provides you with advice on a regularly scheduled basis. Create a committee that provides you with advice on a regularly scheduled basis. When considering major decisions, assemble trusted advisers together and confer with them. When considering major decisions, assemble trusted advisers together and confer with them.

Inclusion: A Key to Trust The wider range of opinions your hear, the better chance you have of extracting the truth. The wider range of opinions your hear, the better chance you have of extracting the truth. People want to be included in decisions that affect their future. People want to be included in decisions that affect their future. –This is not a matter of personal power, but one of self-worth. Appeal to the sense of morality and decency of the people on the other side of the negotiating table. Appeal to the sense of morality and decency of the people on the other side of the negotiating table.

Trust and the Path Ahead. Always be willing to talk and see fair compromise. Always be willing to talk and see fair compromise. Humanity is waiting for something other than a blind imitation of the past. Humanity is waiting for something other than a blind imitation of the past. The first step in the change process is raising awareness. The second step is to involve others in the planning process. The first step in the change process is raising awareness. The second step is to involve others in the planning process. Freedom is necessary for a person’s selfhood and intrinsic worth. Freedom is necessary for a person’s selfhood and intrinsic worth.