So why does trust even matter? Trust impacts on social, business and work relationships. You build better relationships when there is trust involved. People (Co-workers, friends, clients, staff and even suppliers) are all more engaged, effective, productive, helpful and caring when they genuinely trust you. There’s a well-known expression “People do business with people they like, know and trust.”
Here are 20 Ways to Build Trust in Your Relationships – in Business, Work and Life
1. Be Real
Being authentic is essentially a form of honesty, including any flaws you (or your business may have). However, that doesn’t mean you can’t work on improving your flaws and faults.
2. Listen Fully
And listening isn’t just opening your ears, but it sometimes means you stop talking. It means you’re not scanning the room behind the person you’re talking to, or cutting in on what they are saying. It also means hearing what they have said.
3. Follow Through
This is very important in all aspects of business and life. You don’t just tell a client you’ll do something and then don’t. It doesn’t mean you send a prospect some pricing and then let it stop there.
4. Be Confidential
This is critical at all times. Whether it’s something a friend told you, or client knowledge, or something shared by a co-worker; no-one trusts a gossip. Loose lips sink ships!
5. Show Up on Time
Here is one way to show you respect someone else’s time and that if you say you’ll be there at say 2pm, you actually turn up by 2pm! Sounds simple, but late doesn’t instil trust, even with the best excuse time and time again.
6. Ask Other’s Opinions
People feel valued and trusted when you ask for (listen to) and value their opinions. You don’t have to take every suggestion on board, but you should give each careful consideration, whether it’s a client survey or casual ‘what do you think?’
7. Respect Boundaries
Means in all areas. You don’t ring someone at 10pm at night, or 6am in the morning (unless you’re close, and know they will welcome your call before 8am or after 6pm. If it’s relating to business, just because it might suit you to reach out on a Sunday doesn’t mean that other person doesn’t value their personal or family time.
8. Treat Others Equally
Equality is more than race, colour, creed or gender. It’s about showing respect and not giving someone favour over another. Treat others as well as (or better) than you’d like to be treated.
9. Be Consistent in Actions
This is a great way to build trust. When you are consistent (hopefully consistently good) then people know they can trust and rely on you, consistently.
10. Tell the Truth – With Tact
Telling the truth is always good, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot attach a little tact to your honesty. People appreciate honesty, but not cruelty. You’re asked “Am I fat in this?” might be responded, “It doesn’t have the most flattering cut”.
11. Reasonable Expectations
Whether it’s family or work, be reasonable in your expectations of what someone will do, how quickly they will do it and the results they will achieve, with the resources that are available to them.
12. Be Kind and Thoughtful
Thoughtfulness and consideration are not hard to give, and being kind to someone won’t ‘cost’ you in any way.
13. Operate with Integrity
This means so much. It might be fairness of pricing, or not underpaying your team, or perhaps how you manage conflict. If you treat others poorly, don’t expect to earn their respect or trust, or stay in power for that matter.
14. Admit Your Mistakes
I know lawyers often say “don’t admit fault” but often (especially with clients) if you stuff up, then admitting that, alongside a solution to rectify, will go a long way – especially when you apologise.
15. Apologise Genuinely
A genuine “I’m sorry” goes a long way – but don’t abuse it. I lose trust in people who constantly say “My bad” like a joke and then repeat the activity they apologise about over and over again. I’m sorry means also you won’t do it again.
16. Don’t Micromanage
When you micromanage you are saying you don’t trust that person to do what they need to do properly, without your constant intervention. You are absolutely not showing trust. Teach, guide and then allow the person to do their job.
17. Lead by Example
This is a subject in its own right. Everything you do is showing how you behave in a work or business situation, sets your standard and to a degree your expectation. If you behave badly, don’t be stunned if your team do wrong by you.
18. Show Empathy
Stand in the shoes of the other person. What are they feeling? Do you demonstrate that you understand what is happening to them? Are you there for them? In a complaint situation, this is particularly a valuable skill to have.
19. Keep Promises
If you say you’ll do something, then do it! Even if you need to write it down so you won’t forget. I’ll give you a call on Monday probably entails putting it in your diary or task list, so you don’t forget and keep your promise.
20. Be Fair
Even if you’re firm, as long as you’re fair. Play by the rules. Take your turn at unpleasant tasks. Don’t blame others for things that you do, or events that arise. Showing respect, being just and being impartial are all signs of fairness.
When I’m coaching clients, whether they are business coaching clients, leadership mentoring clients or life coaching – trust starts from day one. How do I operate? Am I fair in my own actions? For example, I don’t lock clients into a long-term contract; which I believe is fair and builds trust. I have client agreements (in simple to read English) which instils trust as I’m clear up front what I will do or not do and what my expectations are. Most clients are on plans, but if I go over the time of a plan, then I don’t just invoice extra time. I lead by example, in being clear about business hours to new clients, so they know my boundaries in turn, are teaching them how to set boundaries with their own customers. Everything I ask of a client, I have either done myself at some stage, or are currently doing. Prior to Stone Business Coaching, I ran two other long-term businesses, so when I coach, I’m coming from a place of practical experience and knowledge which gives me empathy and understanding of what a client is potentially feeling and experiencing.
If you’d like to know more about my coaching and mentoring services, then please reach out – I offer a sample 30 minutes coaching session to those interested in my services; which shows fairness. How can I expect someone who may not know me from a bar of soap to engage my services without getting a sample of how I operate? Seems only fair and reasonable to me. : ) To enquire about my services, click here. Make a spectacular day!
Read How to Be a Crummy Boss.
