Establishing Trust

Trust is one of the most important things in a relationship. Trust is a foundation that great things can be built on and without it, nothing can function properly. If you want to be a force for good in this world, you need to learn how to build trust. Here are the top seven ways to do it:

Be honest: This one should be obvious but it’s still worth mentioning. People can tell when you’re not being honest and it will damage your relationship with them.

Keep your word: If you say you’re going to do something, make sure you do it. People will start to question your trustworthiness if you don’t follow through on your promises.

Be reliable: This goes hand-in-hand with keeping your word. People need to be able to rely on you and know that you’ll be there when you say you will. Show up early and with enthusiasm and you’ll earn their trust.

Listen: Listening is a key part of communication and it’s something that people really appreciate. It shows that you care about them and their thoughts and feelings. Never underestimate the power of holding all calls in someones presence, or putting the phone away when someone is speaking with you. Looking in their eyes and being present is powerful. I also recommend taking a breath before responding when someone was just speaking. This shows that you are absorbing what they said and gives them the opportunity to add to what they are expressing.

Respect boundaries: Everyone has different comfort levels and boundaries, it’s important to respect those. If you don’t know the boundary, for example- you can ask if the person is a hugger or before any form of body contact. When in doubt, just ask. Know that the boundaries of another don’t have anything to do with you, it’s all about them and how they want to lead their life.

Be open and transparent: Don’t try to hide things from people, it will only make them suspicious. If you’re open and transparent, even owning up to times when you did something imperfectly or made a mistake, they’ll be more likely to trust you.

These are just a few ways to build trust. Trust is essential for any kind of lasting relationship and it’s something that we need to work on if you want to be successful. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to building trust with the people around you.