A study of 211 business leaders across more than a dozen industries were surveyed in Spring 2009 by Interaction Associates. Participants were asked to rate their organizations’ success in achieving a variety of business goals, including customer retention, employee retention, innovation and creativity, and maintaining a competitive market position. Then, participants rated their organizations along the dimensions of trust, leadership and collaboration.

Here is a sampling of the statements used to assess companies’ performance in practices that support these three dimensions:

Trust

• People are acknowledged and rewarded for their work.
• People within the organization have a sense of shared commitment and responsibility.
• People feel safe communicating their ideas and opinions with colleagues/peers.

Leadership

• Leaders effectively communicate the mission, vision, and strategy of the organization.
• They make sound decisions even when the situation is ambiguous or complex.
• They provide focused, balanced, and timely feedback to individuals and teams.

Collaboration

• People are aware of and appropriately involved in decisions that affect them.
• Individuals willingly share information and resources with each other.
• People, by and large, have the interpersonal and group skills needed to collaborate.