How do you build trust?

I’m curious about people. I’m always researching and studying about how we learn, our ability to change, teams and its performance... And what I realized during this time is that each of us were born with different talents and gifts, but many of us have not discovered it yet. I strongly believe that we are here to build and reach extraordinary things, not only to survive.

Therefore, instead of surviving, my proposal to you is that we could start reflecting, testing, discussing, exchanging ideas more frequently. Through dialogue and discussions, great ideas could come up and it is when the “magic happens” and we are able to make the difference, influencing our and others lives.

I would like to start my reflection from the basis, with a topic that has come to my mind with frequency, trust. As many authors say and I agree with: yes, we can build trust. However, it also happens at the biological level.

Trust is what has helped humans to survive. It is what drives us to engage in many activities as relationships, friendships and businesses. You probably have already heard “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair" or "Trust what you see. Not what you hear". Nevertheless, how do you build trust?

“We are not good at everything, we’re not good by ourselves. Our ability to build trust and relationships is the key to our survival as a race, and to thriving as Idea makers.” Simon Sinek

Ricardo A., Chief Officer of AHHA from State of University of New York (SUNY), based on his experience in building teams in the past 20 years, proposed what he calls “The Trust equation”: Loyalty + Ethics + Competence = Trust, that he describes as per below:

Trust of my integrity — This is about “trust”, “allegiance”, “loyalty” or “fidelity.” Will this person be there for me? Can I trust this person to keep me safe always?

Trust of ethics — It is the response to ethical or moral matters. In other words, can I trust that this person will always aim to do things in alignment with our code of conduct and values?

Trust of competence — It is about the necessary competency to achieve results. Trust of competence is not only being able to do a job, but also be aware of own limitations and when to ask for help. Do I trust that this person will always deliver what is expeceted?

However, even going through all these steps, you will not be able to build trust without consistency. When it comes to trust, there is no room for "normally" and "usually"... It is really about recurrence, stability and solidity. Trust is about doing what we say, always.

"Without trust we don't truly collaborate; we merely coordinate or, at best, cooperate. It is trust that transform a group of people into a team" Stephen M. R. Covey

I agree with Ricardo’s trust equation, but in my view, an important part is missing: Trust in yourself. If you are not able to trust in yourself, in your own capacity to build great things, you will not be able to trust others.

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” Goethe