The Power of Trust. How to Build Trust.

Trust is the foundation of all relationships. Trust must be built day by day. It requires consistency and communication.

Recently, I volunteered as a coach in a 4-days workshop to help coach individuals who are looking for a positive change in their life and who want to achieve the goals that matter to them. On the 3rd day of the workshop, there was an activity where I need to ask each of the 6 participants in my group this question :

Do you trust me ?

It was a simple yet powerful question.

When each of them looked into my eyes and responded individually with a resounding YES, I was so grateful that they trusted me even though we knew and interacted with one another for 3 days. I felt a sense of fulfillment to have earned their trust.

Trust is the single most important factor in building personal and professional relationships. Trust is the backbone of success in any relationships.

It is not always easy to build trust.

Here are the ways you can build trust in different kinds of relationships.

How to Build Trust as a Leader

• Leaders can earn trust by respecting and learning the cultural norms and values of the team members. Respect individual differences and express appreciation for different perspectives.
• Communicate honestly. Listen actively. Give your promises carefully and once given, always keep and follow through on that promise. 
• Be Genuine. Make personal connection. Allow people to feel appreciated and empowered.
• Be accountable and take ownership of mistakes. Leaders will lose the trust of their teams if they put blame on others.
• Lastly, create a psychologically safe environment where everyone has an opportunity to contribute and the fear of failure is eliminated. 

How to Build Trust with Clients

• You can develop trust in a relationship with a client by listening and paying attention to what clients say. Observe their non-verbal communications. 
• Respond to their questions or issues in a timely manner. At the same time, do all you can to help clients feel comfortable to be honest with you. You want them to trust that their concerns or ideas will be taken seriously.
• Maintain a positive attitude no matter how stressed or overwhelmed you feel. This conveys professionalism, energy and confidence with the clients.
• Share information with client and keep them informed. This means explain to your client what you did, why you did it and what led you to make certain decisions. 
• Finally, preserve trust even when formal relationships end.

How to Build Trust in a Relationship

• Value the relationships that you have and never take anyone for granted. Regularly be there for the person.
• Help people whenever you can even if it does not benefit you. Authentic kindness helps to build trust.
• Be open in your emotions. When people know you care, they are more likely to trust you.
• Have a calm and confident demeanor. People are reassured and trust you when you are calm, competent and in control of situation.
• Lastly, be honest. Say what you truly want to say and not simply say whatever you think others want to hear.

The importance of trust in any healthy and successful relationships cannot be underestimated. People will not follow a leader they do not trust. Customers will not buy and do business with company they do not trust. People lose credibility when they are not honest or tell lies.

When you have build trust. it is equally important to keep and sustain the trust of others by consistently demonstrating trustworthy. As soon as trust is broken, you must work twice as hard to regain it and repair the relationship.

Remember trust must be build day by day. Trust is earned and not given.

How do you build trust ?