Yesterday I published the first of three entries that focus on strategies that gain trust. Today I continue with the next three strategies that I consider to be important in order to gain trust. I realise that the things that are important to me might not be important to you, but I sincerely hope and believe that you will find at least one strategy that "speaks" to you.
4. Show some loyalty to everyone
Loyalty reaches beyond, but not excluding, your colleagues and clients. It goes back to the roots of family life, and in a sense refers to the glue that keeps family together. We often laugh at the idea that we can not choose family, and that family stick together no matter how big the fight or the mess you made.
The reality is that fights will occur. Disagreements are something we can not avoid. They will cross your path for certain. The important thing to remember here is that you have to keep the fight inside the team (family). You don't put your problems, differences and dirty laundry out on display for all to see.
Show some loyalty. We are often presented with the opportunity to agree with someone about a fellow-worker or team member's distorted ways. When was the last time you defended another person who couldn't defend him / herself in his / her absence?
Bad-mouthing someone behind their back will cause the person you are talking about to find out about it, and they will certainly not trust you. The person you are sharing the conversation with will also doubt you, because the assumption will be made that you probably bad-mouth everyone behind their backs. Show some loyalty and stick up for fellow-workers, friends and family.
5. Take responsibility
How often do we point fingers when something goes wrong? Pointing fingers destroys trust. By taking responsibility for things, even if you are not a manager or team leader, builds trust and loyalty. It brings down the walls of crossed arms that point fingers in all direction. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons that governments across the world is no longer trusted.
Who will be willing and able to exercise their right to speak freely and share new ideas if there is a ton of bricks that will come down on them when they open their mouths?
Be a stand up and accountable person. You will gain much more trust if you have an attitude that says "this is our mistake. Lets learn from it and move on".
6. Give credit to others
"Nothing is ever yours until you give it away" - Albert Einstein
In most things I accomplish there are more people involved than just myself. It only makes sense to me to be generous with what you have done. Yes, maybe it was your idea to do it in the first place, but it involved other people. People who made it possible to realise your dream, concept or idea.
By scooping up all the credit you have accomplished to loose people's trust in you. If you have sincerely shared the credit with everyone who stood by you, and made it possible to accomplish your goals, you have cultivated trust.
The gain in trust lies not only in your ability to give sincere credit to others, but also in your ability to share. Don't take credit that belongs to someone else. Take credit only for the things you have actually done, and share the spotlight with others. There is nothing more aggravating than to see how someone else takes the trophy for the work you have done.
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