HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharting Our Course The Importance of Trust1
Tom Thiersch
From:Nevey, Steve <neveys@wsdot.wa.gov>
Sent:Tuesday, April 23, 2024 8:13 AM
Subject:Charting Our Course: The Importance of Trust
To the Washington State Ferries Team,
Today, I want to focus on our fourth shared value: 'Trust. We create a space where everyone feels safe and valued.'
In my message about "serve," I talked about the importance of serving our customers and each other. When discussing
"respect," I discussed respecƟng the value that each of us brings. When I talked about "grow," I emphasized the importance
of learning from our mistakes and recognizing our successes. Trust is the value that underpins all those values and holds
them up. Without trust, all three of those values break down. There are many lenses through which you can view the value
of trust. I’m focusing on trusƟng the process as we change and adapt to a post-pandemic future.
In the past, I worked for a large company that merged with another large company. It was hasƟly announced one day, and
the only instrucƟon we were given was to find our counterparts at the other organizaƟon and figure out how they do the
work they do and agree on the best one way of doing the work together. This inadvertently created a huge amount of
mistrust. As you can imagine, my mind was saying, “wait, you want me to find the person who does my job at that other
company and show them how I do it… so what? – they can replace me?” Every one of us was thinking the same thing and so
were the people at the other company. What made it worse was that the two companies had been compeƟtors for
decades, so the relaƟonships we had with our counterparts at the other company were very adversarial and now we were
being asked to be friends.
AŌer about a year of stress and angst and the merger not really going well, the newly combined ‘group’ announced a new
president. The new president took the Ɵme to explain why the merger had happened, explained that it was nothing to do
with downsizing staff and more to do with being beƩer prepared to take on future industry challenges with clear examples.
Once I had this understanding, I developed a much beƩer relaƟonship with colleagues at the other company, we became
good friends, developed a high level of trust, began sharing best pracƟces and ideas, and it was to the benefit of the enƟre
organizaƟon.
What I learned from that experience is that clear, transparent communicaƟon builds trust and like Secretary Millar, I’m
commiƩed to share with you informaƟon relevant to how WSF operates when I know it. As WSF emerges from the
pandemic, it's imperaƟve that we shiŌ from a reacƟve to proacƟve posture. The move away from an ego-based culture that
I have been talking about is a criƟcal first step. I aim to posiƟon us to be able to anƟcipate and address external challenges
before they escalate into major problems. The changes underway are not a criƟque of the past; rather, they are forward-
looking iniƟaƟves designed to pave the way for a more posiƟve future. Success in this new direcƟon hinges on trust—in the
change process and at every level of our organizaƟon.
Trust is culƟvated through consistent acƟons. As we implement changes and improvements, our commitment to
consistency will be evident. Trust is not built overnight but through sustained efforts and a shared commitment to our
values.
I acknowledge that building trust is a gradual process, and acƟons speak louder than words. I am commiƩed to
demonstraƟng through my acƟons, and the acƟons of our leadership team, that your trust is well-placed.
The survey link provided in previous messages remains open for your input: Washington State Ferries 2024 Survey
(surveymonkey.com)
As always, thank you for all that you do.
2
Regards,
Steve Nevey (he, him)
Assistant Secretary | Washington State Ferries
C. 206-697-1584 | E. Neveys@wsdot.wa.gov