Trust and a "certain type of relationship"

This paper explores the issue of trust within workplace relationships, from the perspective of the ideas of Carl Rogers. While Rogers was originally focused upon therapeutic or helping relationships, the characteristics of effective relationships are considered generic and can be easily applied to any set of relationships within the wider workplace. It is maintained that the essential ingredient, the glue if you will, to enable workplace relationships to be effective is the trust that exists between self and others within the relationship. Trust is integral to Rogers' "helping relationship, enabling each individual to "find their inner wisdom and confidence" to make "increasingly healthier and more constructive choices" (Kirschenbaum Henderson, 1990). As it could be suggested that any system, including an organization, is nothing but a set of relationships, it is imperative that the process of helping others to learn and operate through the medium of trusting relationship (Rogers' "certain type of relationship") is seen as mandatory for success. The interesting dichotomy is that abounding within the workplace today is control, high competition and individuality; a culture within which the "certain type of relationship" as suggested by Rogers is unlikely to flourish.