Cory Scheer’s Post

Skier Down...Red Flag Up. Recently my wife and our kids spent time with my sister and her family at their house located on a lake. We enjoyed beautiful weather, warm water, and snapped pictures and videos while people were being towed behind the boat. The captain of the boat, my brother-in-law, assigned me to be the red-flag-holder. A $10 bright red flag with a profound role in the safety and well-being of everyone on our boat. He reminded me of the way of the water. The way of the water says: - There is alway a person in charge of holding the red flag and looking to make sure the skier is ok. - Once the skier is down, the red flag goes up. - As soon as the skier is down, the captain of the boat immediately throttles down the engine and circles back to get the skier while the red flag stays up. - As soon as any other boat sees a red flag on any other boat, they also slow down and proceed with caution. - The red flag stays up until the skier is either skiing again or back in the boat. The red flag rules are not optional...they are actually a state law. What if the Way of the Workplace followed the same principles: - There is always a person in charge of caring for others and looking to make sure every team members are ok. - Once a team member is in need of help, the sense of urgency to care for that person goes up. - As soon as a team member is in need of help, the leader of the team immediately slows down and circles back to help the team member while the sense of urgency to care for that person stays up. - As soon as anyone else sees that a team member is in need of help, they also slow down and proceed with caution. - The sense of urgency to care for that person stays up until that person is back on their feet or in a safe place. Simple rules. Profound effects. Safety first. People cared for. Strengthening trust. Priorities focused on caring for others. The way of the water says when a skier is down...the red flag goes up. The Way of the Workplace says when a team member is in trouble.....the sense of urgency to care for that person must go up. This must be the way. #TrustProposition

Sometimes the best treasure is the Trash. One of the best parts about being a business owner is the flexibility to do work at anytime of the day and on any day of the week. One of the most challenging parts about being a business owner is the flexibility to do work at anytime of the day and on any day of the week. This past weekend I was enjoying the relatively mild midwest temperatures on the back deck while working on a few things in preparation for the upcoming busy week. In the middle of proofreading a proposal, my son slid open the glass door with a fresh deck of cards and asked if I wanted to play a game of Trash. Trash is a new favorite card game in our house...basically a game of luck that I'm extremely unlucky at. My son, Evan, is currently undefeated against me...maybe that's why he wants to keep playing Trash with me. My initial response to him was: "I'd love to play a game...can I finish this bit of work up in the next 20 minutes and then we can play?" He said sure and then slid back into the house. I dove back into the unfinished proposal and a couple of minutes later I felt unsettled. I couldn't get this thought out of mind: "Sometimes the best treasure is the Trash" (also still wondering why this is the name of the card game). I closed my laptop, set it to the side, and told Evan I was ready to play Trash (and get beat) now instead of later. Trust, whether in a family context, team context or client context, is personal. Trust requires proximity. Trust requires priority. Trust requires a willing co-creation of a new reality...whether it's over a card game, a critical team meeting, or the rollout of a new product. My son wanted my priority and proximity (and to remain undefeated in Trash) Oftentimes when it comes to strengthening trust: The emails can wait. The proposals will get done. The social media will be there when you come back. Trust is vital because it's personal. Trust is personal because it's relational. Sometimes the best treasure is the Trash. #TrustProposition

I was recently inspired by a post from Charles Miller who shared a list of people he is consistently encouraged and challenged by on LinkedIn. Here are 10 (of many) trusted individuals that consistently share things that are challenging and encouraging to me as a business owner, speaker, coach, and consultant...I hope you are able to connect with and learn from them as well: Brad Hill - from the moment I met Brad and with everything he shares, it's evident that he is deeply committed to having whatever conversation is necessary to uncover the truth in order to help move you forward. Justin Ricklefs - pushed me out of my comfort zone many years to begin the process of launching my company, TrustCentric Consulting...he continues to encourage and push me through his deep friendship, brilliant writing, and leadership of Guild Collective. Charlie Saffro - an expert in all things recruiting and retaining logistics, transportation and supply chain talent. She has also built a trust-centered company (CS Recruiting) that is making a long-lasting impact for leaders, teams and organizations. Mitch Case - one of the building blocks of the Structure of Trust® is caring for others...Mitch takes this building block so seriously that he has built a business (More Than A Meal) to help other businesses care for others in practical and impactful ways. Holly LaBoda - Leads Luminaries Consulting, and specializes in training companies on implementing what I believe to be one of the most important leadership frameworks ever developed: Situational Leadership. Josue Valles - has a remarkable way of visualizing complex content topics into meaningful and memorable images. Kiona Sinks - champion for all things social and civic innovation and doing remarkable things at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Mic Johnson - Principal and COO of MJMeetings, LLC, whose honest, timely, and vital encouragement is fueled by his unending empathy. Dr. Katie Ervin - Founder and CEO of Catalyst Development and someone who gave (and continues to give) me priceless and timeless counsel in the early stages of launching my business. Kurt Bartolich - is an expert in all things brand positioning and CEO of BrandCertain. I had the privilege of co-authoring the National Survey on Brand and Trust with Kurt and have been deeply impacted by his encouragement and expertise. If you are not already connected / following these great individuals and thought leaders, I would encourage you to do so!

Billions and Billions and Billions of Dollars. Research shows year after year that hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars are wasted every year as a direct result of people quitting because of the gaps in trust caused by a toxic workplace. There's a better way. It requires truth, commitment, clarity, accountability, and action. #TrustProposition

"Trust doesn’t have to be elusive, squishy, and unclear. It can be dimensionalized, measured and acted upon. Every individual and organization has the choice to either settle for the current workplace cultural reality or take action on strengthening trust. What will your choice be?" #TrustProposition https://lnkd.in/eHgP7Byk

Uprooted. Our town (City of Liberty, Missouri) got rocked last night with a fast moving and extremely powerful storm. In a matter of seconds, the worst-case-scenario that was warned of by the accurate forecast came true. In a matter of seconds, hundred-year-old trees were toppled. In a matter of seconds, entire root systems of trees vaulted upward and through the foundation of houses. In a matter of seconds, the landscaping of historic homes changed dramatically and will never be the same. In a matter of seconds, main streets were blocked indefinitely and detours were required. In a matter of seconds, power lines snapped and thousands of people were left without refrigeration or air conditioning. In a matter of seconds, people were put in harms way and had to protect themselves from the freight train storm. Also within a matter of seconds…. People checked on their neighbors in the midst of a torrential downpour. Communication was posted on social media providing vital updates of downed power lines and trees blocking streets as a caution to others. Utility workers dropped everything to restore power as quickly as possible. First responders immediately started helping citizens. And now the morning after… Chainsaws are buzzing, people are clearing debris, pickup trucks are leaving the scene of the storm with the remnants of what was once growth and stability. Whether in a municipality or a company, when the storms rip through and things get uprooted, healthy communities take action. Healthy communities care for others. Healthy communities clean up the damage. Healthy communities solve the devastating problems. Healthy communities do what it takes to begin again. Deeply grateful for this healthy community.

Whisper-level conversations. Weaponizing of silence. Behavior that create tension. Actions that disrupt workplace culture. Consistent gaps in trust that deeply affect workplace culture. Trust isn't illusive, unattainable, or imaginary The research that I had the privilege of partnering with Kurt Bartolich on from BrandCertain shows quite the opposite. Trust is tactical, measurable and attainable. Company culture will only improve when there is an ongoing commitment to closing the trust gaps. 📷 Guild Collective 📘 Streamline Books 💡 TrustCentric Consulting www.TrustGapBook.com

Mid-year's resolutions. It definitely doesn't have the same ring as a New Year's Resolution...but today is an important day. The start of the second half of the year. July 1st. 6 months behind us and 6 months in front of us. The start of Q3. The mid-way point that could either be a watershed moment or the start of something completely new. Or...it could just be another day...183 days after a long-forgotten New Year's Resolution. My brother, Darin Scheer, recently encouraged me to start being more intentional about Gratitude...to take the time to articulate it in written form...to provide a counterweight and context to the roller coaster ride that is the reality of being a business owner. Because I trust him as my brother, mentor, and as a vital advisor...I listened and leaned in and made a commitment...I'm calling it my "Mid-year's Resolution": - 1 hour on the first day of every month (now a recurring calendar appointment) - Phone turned off (easier said than done) - Pen and journal and coffee as my companion (back to the basics) - The title of every one of these journal entries is simply: "Gratitude" This morning, the 6 pages of blue ink on my journal paper meandered through thoughts and feelings and facts. And then, out of somewhere unexpected, I wrote down the common phrase: "Risk vs. Reward" I thought about risk. I thought about reward. And then I thought deeply about the word "vs." And then I thought about how vital trust is during the process of risk. - Trust in others to support you when the future is unknown. - Trust that your current way of doing things should always be open to revision. - Trust that new challenges create new resolve, sharpens old tools, and sparks unrealized creativity. - Trust that the actual reward will be different and most likely more important than the original reward hoped for. - Trust that every risk we take will be a lesson that we will be able to share with others. - Trust that the outcome of risk can (and most likely will be) renewal instead of regret. - Trust that risk is the antidote to status quo, the kryptonite to sedentary, and the fuel for adventure. - Trust that risk will illuminate the truth that things are not always as good as they seem...oftentimes they are better. As I was writing, it struck me that maybe the risk we can take is to think about the common phrase of "Risk vs. Reward" differently. I visualized my thoughts with some words and an arrow. Gratitude turns the common phrase of Risk vs. Reward into the all-too-common reality that Risk IS the Reward. It's July 1st...it's the middle of year...a potential watershed moment of the calendar. Perhaps a mid-year resolution of gratitude will help you take a new risk or appreciate more deeply the risk you are currently in. #TrustProposition

Book studies and diners. What an incredibly surreal experience. Yesterday morning I was having coffee with a friend in my favorite local diner. A diner that fits all of the aspects of what a diner should look and feel like. Friendly staff. High ceilings. Brick walls. Hot coffee. Ridiculously good bacon. A different friend of mine was also in the diner. She was with 3 of her colleagues from Liberty Hospital…the hospital that saved my life 11 years ago after a terrible bike accident involving a vehicle that struck me. She shared that her and her work colleagues had been meeting regularly…doing a book study…and using my book my book to grow closer as a team. I sat down at their table and thanked them. I thanked them for the honor of knowing they were reading and discussing me book. I thanked them for taking action on trust. Book clubs and diners. People taking action on living out their #TrustProposition Streamline Books