Practicing Trust

Your money isn't your most precious asset. You don't have that title. You don't even have time. It's trust, and relationships are based on trust. It establishes the level of risk we will take. Without it, difficult discussions, creativity, and wholesome cultures are impossible. Gaining trust is a slow process that is based on a thousand small choices, but it pays off in the long run. Let’s look at some things we can do as we are practicing trust.

1. Communicate Openly

The foundation of a healthy relationship is open and honest communication. It is necessary for development. Open communication, however, is more dangerous in power imbalanced relationships. You must be deliberate if you want to receive the candid criticism you require. In these discussions, how you respond is crucial. Listen intently and provide open-ended inquiries. Refrain from elaborating, and if you have crucial extra information, take cautious not to minimize the issue while sharing it. Above everything, express gratitude. Keep in mind that it takes bravery to speak up. There's a risk. It's a service that aids in your personal development. Accepting criticism conveys the message, "I want to improve." I'm willing to modify my conduct to better suit your needs.

2. Don't Break Your Word

Maintain your word and carry out your commitments. Getting people to believe what you say is the goal of developing trust. However, remember that establishing confidence demands not only honoring your commitments but also refraining from making unachievable promises. By keeping your word, you let people know what you expect from them, which increases the likelihood that they will respect you and gain your trust.

3. Admit Your Mistakes

People may tell when you're being dishonest when you try to cover your blunders. Being open allows you to display your vulnerable side, which fosters interpersonal trust. Because everyone makes errors, people see you as more like them. People would find it hard to trust you if you act as though you never make mistakes because you have unnecessarily distanced yourself from them. People are unlikely to believe you if all they see is the "perfection" you portray.

4. Maintain Consistency

Consistency is frequently the foundation of trust. When someone constantly supports us through good times and bad, we are more likely to trust them. One of the best ways to gain someone's trust is to consistently demonstrate your support for them. Each person's growth in this area will be unique. Perhaps you should just keep your mouth shut because you tend to overpromise. Perhaps you might make a commitment to more accurately capturing and documenting the agreed-upon actions. Perhaps you should use time or resources to assisting your team in resolving important issues. Or perhaps you should take some time to own up to your mistakes, either in private or in public. Integrity is about making sure that your actions and words are in harmony. And trust depends on integrity.

5. Hold Fast to Your Principles

You have to sacrifice your own ideals and convictions when you do anything just to get approval. As a result, you lose faith in yourself, your principles, and your convictions. People will admire your honesty if you always act in accordance with your moral convictions, regardless of what others may think. Interestingly, you have to be prepared to occasionally irritate people in order to gain their trust. those don't usually trust those who just speak what they believe other people want to hear.

6. Make Other People Look Good

In improv, there is a guideline that goes, "Make each other look good." This proverb encapsulates a dedication to supporting others, actively participating in their endeavors, and encouraging them to succeed. You communicate safety when you are dedicated to making the people you are caring for appear nice. Seek out chances to showcase the accomplishments of people under your direction. Praise them both in private and in public. Highlight their accomplishments. Identify opportunities that align with their skill sets and extend invitations to them for promotions or projects for which they are qualified. Practices like these demonstrate that you're paying attention. They give your people a sense of visibility. "Your contributions matter, and I am committed to your good," is what these acts convey.