Leading the Way
How leadership works on the ranch.
contributed article by B. Lynn Gordon Leader Consulting
A TIME FOR TRUST
February 2020
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s a journalist, one thing I seem to collect a lot of is books. I took some time over the holidays to sort through my growing collection of books and magazines. I came across a magazine from my Dad’s collection of breed publications, the October-November 1973 issue of the Charolais Bull-o-Gram, a publication produced by Litton Charolais Ranch, Chillicothe, Mo., which also featured advertisements from additional Charolais breeders. My dad always spoke highly of Jerry Litton, editor of the publication, a U.S. Congressman and an astute cattleman. Dad believed; Litton was destined for the White House, but his life was cut short in a tragic plane crash.
legal document filled with fine print.”
TRUST OF A HANDSHAKE
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As I read Litton’s editor column – ‘A time for Trust’, I couldn’t help but think how applicable this topic remains, fifty years later. Litton stated, “Several years ago I visited with a man who had left the corporate business world in the prime of his years to become a cattleman. His reason? He wanted to get in a business where the handshake and a man’s word was used instead of a 40-page
He went on to say, “A few bad deals, and not only will the trust be broken, but the handshake will be replaced with a written legal document and a lot of fine print. For there to be a handshake, there must be two hands.” Litton was referencing the lack of trust that appeared to be growing in both the private and public sectors and encouraged his readers, cattlemen, to strive to be trustworthy in each and everything they do.
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“For there to be a handshake, there must be two hands.” - the late Jerry Litton BUILDING TRUST A colleague of mine in the leadership field, who also grew up with agricultural roots, Richard Fagerlin, Ft. Collins, CO, outlines in his book, Trustology, that a key component to a healthy and
successful business and relationship is trust. Unlike other views on trust, Fagerlin, believes trust can’t be earned, it can only be given, and that it starts and ends with you. Conveying trust across teams and in your business is demonstrated by expressing the following values:
TRUST Treat everyone with respect Responsibility and accountability 100% of the time Uncompromised excellence in all that we do Service to others first Take relationships and influence seriously TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT Litton referenced the “cattlemen way of doing business was through a handshake,” because cattlemen trust one another. Many deals and agreements have been made in our industry due to the mutual respect cattlemen have for each other. Respect within your business is no different. Demonstrating respect for your family, your team of employees, and your customers is a step to building a culture of trust. Showing interest in those who work for you so you understand their strengths and
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