We all desire to work in environments where we are able
to place our trust in the people including those we work
with, management, clients and customers. As Fernando Flores
points out, trust is evident in the actions, language and
conversations we have and it provides a solid foundation for
our developing and sustaining effective relationships.
Without trust we are unable to develop effective
relationships that sustain, support and reinforce collective
actions. So trust is the essential ingredient which binds
relationships and mutual collaboration together.
In the real world success requires us to establish and
maintain trust in our relationships, and it is worth
reflecting on how to achieve this. I continue to be
impressed by the work of Julio Olalla (Newfield Network) and
have integrated much of his wisdom which I will share with
you.
1. Be Prepared To Dare To Take Actions to Build
Trust
Trust starts with you and your acknowledgement that
trust is the vital ingredient which holds organisational
and people relationships together. Without trust the
collaborative relationships which succeed in achieving
outcomes cannot be maintained.
2. Be an Effective Trust Role Model
Practice trust and live in trust. Become competent at
keeping your word and being sincere with those you
engage with. Be an example of the changes to establish
trust in your environment that you want to see happen,
so that you are assessed as being trustworthy. This may
require you to review your actions and behaviours and be
prepared to honestly appraise yourself.
Where are you on the continuum of being an effective
trust role model? What are you missing and need to pay
attention to, and / or what are the qualities of trust
that you already possess and are demonstrating
effectively.
3. Develop the Effective Body Language of a Trust
Worthy Person
Be sincere, upright and true to what you believe in
and what you do in your daily life. Rehearse the body
movement of a person who stands firm in their values and
actions. Shift your body’s habits of moving by
practicing stances of determination, stability,
openness, and flexibility and notice how your ability to
hold different conversations changes (Julio Olalla) as
you change your body posture.
4. Master the Art of Creating Moods Of Trust
Create effective moods of trust by managing and
fulfilling the promises and commitments you make. If the
circumstances within which the commitment is made
changes, communicate this honestly and renegotiate the
actions you need to take. Maintaining honesty and
keeping your word is a core component of creating a mood
of trust around you which promotes you as a safe and
reliable person to deal with.
5. Avoiding Committing Blind Trust
Blind trust doesn’t look beyond the conversation for
evidence that the person will honour their commitments
to you. Blind trust is like a lottery, you may be lucky
and win, and you may be unlucky and be betrayed. Take
the time to check out the situation carefully, have the
conversations you need to have. Avoid the emotional pain
of being let down or losing out because you relied on
the wing of a prayer or blindly trusted that things
would turn out.
6. Develop Authentic Trust
Be aware that when you choose to trust there is a
chance that things will not happen as planned. However
you can take appropriate action. Authentic trust is a
dynamic and evolving part of a relationship that needs
constant nurturing and conversations. (Julio Olalla).
Talk about trust before it is broken and plan the
actions you will be taking to prevent breakdowns.
Maintain communication and information about what is
happening, what is needed and how people are meeting
responsibilities and expectations, and appreciate the
need to make changes along the way.
7. Know the Difference between a Promise and an
Expectation
People hold expectations that an action will occur
without making the request or ensuring that it will
happen. Instead they hope for a miracle or that others
will notice the need for action.
Expectation which rely mind reading and blind faith are
sure pathways to failure.
Learn to make promises which include conversations which
make the implicit explicit, and bring transparency,
clear goals and expectations to the planning process.
Effective trust is developed through making promises
which are based on clear understandings, firm
commitments and successful outcomes.
8. Support People in Difficult and Successful Times
Develop effective relationships which support people
in moments of failure and acknowledge their efforts in
success. View mistakes as learning opportunities, and
constructive ways to have conversations about what needs
to change, and how to go about achieving it.
9. Be a Leader of Trust
Introduce the concept that trust can be nurtured,
along a two-way street by management and staff. Be a
Leader of Building Trust by asking the challenging
questions of:
- What are we trusting here
- How are we making the assessment that we can
trust
- How will we manage and learn through our
mistakes
- How will others know we can be trusted
- What needs to happen for trust to be maintained
10. Risk Talking About Trust
Begin to put trust on the agenda. Raise the issue,
talk about trust with others in your organisation and
personal life. Speak about trust when it is missing, and
what needs to happen about it.
Actively generate pockets of trust around you. As you
learn about where your ability to influence is located,
you may be surprised at how raising the profile of
building trust generates conversations and stimulates
collecting actions and understandings about how to go
about developing trust.
Building trust requires having the conversations, being
authentic and sincere in your willingness and
preparedness to be the change that you want to see in
the world.
I hope this has provided some reflection and focus for
you in your quest to develop trust in your own life, and I
welcome your feedback or views on the subject.
What do you think?
