Trust is the foundation of enduring relationships – trust in self and trust in others. Individuals and organizations cannot change and grow without it.
If generosity creates trust, then what sustains it?
Trust must be earned, revealed and validated by your actions. Demanding that others be trustworthy, or proclaiming yourself to be, is a futile expression.
Sustaining trust requires the determined implementation of 3 essential elements:
- Caring: You cannot trust someone you believe lacks a sincere concern for you and others. Sharing and caring confirm generosity and demonstrate vulnerability; vulnerability invites a response and sustains trust.
- Competence: You cannot trust someone who can’t get the job done. Accurately assess your competencies, promise no more than you can deliver and confidently fulfill your promises to sustain trust, striving to exceed expectations when you can.
- Consistency: You cannot trust someone who is unreliable. Be transparent with your motives and consistent in honoring your commitments to sustain trust.
Constantly demonstrating these essentials is what sustains trust, while also providing the means to identify and promptly crush any opportunity for mistrust to develop.
How do you demonstrate “caring” for your customers and employees?
How transparent are your motives to your stakeholders?
