Last week we examined trust and how easy it is to unintentionally fall into the trap of untrustworthiness, or not being trusted. This week we want to share four great tips from Michael Hyatt on how to build or rebuild trust.
In a recent blog post, Michael shared his personal experience of working with an employee who could not be trusted. The individual was hired based on an impressive résumé and perceived competence in his industry. Unfortunately, he soon began to destroy his own reputation, and his coworkers began to distrust him when he failed to keep his word and follow through on commitments and when he was consistently late to meetings. He made matters worse by never “owning up” to his shortcomings, instead he would “spin” the facts in his own favor and made excuse after excuse.
Michael, as this person’s boss, tried to turn him around and coach him on specific behaviors, but eventually Michael had no choice but to fire this person. Sadly, this employee’s legacy, which negatively affected everyone around him, could only have been salvaged if he had realized and admitted what was happening and taken steps to rebuild trust with his coworkers and employer. Trust is an essential ingredient in anyone’s recipe for success.
Most likely, like Michael, you have at some point been in a position where you had to deal with someone who couldn’t be trusted. Or perhaps you’ve come to the extremely difficult realization that you have been a person who can’t always be trusted and depended on.
In his blog, Michael shares and expounds on four simple but crucial steps to building trust when it has been lost or has never existed:
- “Keep your word. This is where it starts. People have to learn that they can count on you to deliver on your promises.
- Tell the truth. If we are going to build trust, then we have to commit ourselves to telling the truth—even when it is difficult or embarrassing.
- Be transparent. You have to take a risk and be vulnerable. This creates rapport and rapport builds trust.
- Give without any strings attached. The more you take the initiative to give, the more it builds trust.”
Michael asserts that, “Trust can always be rebuilt. Granted, in some situations, it can take years. It takes doing the right things over a long period of time. But in most cases, it won’t take that long. Relationships can be turned around quickly if you own the problem and take the steps I’ve outlined above.”
If you feel you need to work on building trust in your relationships, take some great advice and carefully follow and apply these four critical steps: “Keep your word, tell the truth, be transparent, and give without any strings attached.” The return on your investment of time and effort will be incredible!
To read Michael’s entire article on building trust, visit his blog at www.michaelhyatt.com
