FACTS ABOUT TRUST

Trust is a tricky thing. When you’ve got someone’s trust it’s great: you can sell them more stuff, get more favors, ask for more, and generally benefit a great deal. But when someone doesn’t trust you, forget about it, you’re in big trouble. So what do we know about trust? Turns out a lot!

Recently, it is very difficult to Trust everyone even between spouse, colleagues, friends and family. We sometimes wonder why people do not trust us or others. This month our focus is on gaining TRUST. If you are battling with trust issues, we have practical ways with which you can overcome them. 

TRUST is a firm belief in the reliability or ability of someone or something through two major ways which are CHARACTER and COMPETENCE.

Therefore to create a firm belief, which is TRUST, in someone through their CHARACTER there must be a mental and moral qualities distinctive to that particular individual or something. For instance, a Mechanic who repairs your car and gives quality services with useful tips on how to avoid damage to your car will earn your TRUST.

Also, TRUST is earn through COMPETENCE, that is, your ability to do something successfully and efficiently. I remember when I was growing up, whenever we have trouble with our tap in the kitchen or in the bathroom, my elder brother usually fix them before my parents call on Plumber. That is cost saving. He must have watched closely when the Plumber was working on them previously. That made my Mother to believe and TRUST him to do the work around the house.

First, let’s take a look at several ways by which we can give or earn TRUST through our CHARACTER, they are as follows:

1.     INTENT: To earn people’s trust you must show strong interest and give genuine attention to people and situations around you. When people feel your concern and interest they tend to trust you. Our intent can be carried out through the following ways:

i.                   CARING: When we care for others by asking, visiting and providing for people’s needs. It will be known and recommended for an individual exhibiting such a caring character as a trusted person when it comes to hospitability.

ii.                 TRANSPARENCY: When you have an unbiased judgement on issues, you speak the truth in everything and deliver a balanced report on situation. People will trust you and your sense of judgement. You will be a point of reference when there is a dicey issue and your credibility will come to play.

iii.              OPENNESS: When you have the quality of being honest and not hiding information or feelings i.e saying the truth and clearly. People will appreciate and respect you for being trustworthy.

2.     INTEGRITY:  People will trust you when they see that you are honest and having a strong moral principles.   Everyone likes people that are straight forward in little things, with such people you can entrust valuables.

Our integrity can be tested through the following ways:

i.                   HONESTY: With the absence of lying, cheating and theft in your character, your family, colleagues and friends can see you as an honest person to trust.

ii.                 FAIRNESS:  This is the quality of making judgements that are free from discrimination. Together with our Leaders and Judges we should all play fairness in everything we do. See other people as yourself and treat them accordingly.

iii.               AUTHENCITY: Be original, do not imitate others. Your quality of being authentic will make people believe and trust you.

 Secondly, let’s take a look at several ways by which we can give or earn TRUST through our COMPETENCE, they are as follows:

1.     SKILLS: When you are able to accomplish a task with pre-determined results often within a given amount of time portrays you as a skillful and reliable person. Such attribute will make people trust you as been efficient at what you do.

2.      KNOWLEDGE: Whatever you know today will be of help in the future. Learning new things every day is essential. Having a little understand about almost everything will be to your advantage. Other people will look to you for contribution and trust your debt of knowledge.

3.     EXPERIENCE: Generally, it’s known that Experience is the best Teacher. Our observation, encounter and things we have witness will help us proffer useful solutions to issues. Thereby, people will learn from our experience. A quality experience is an edge over other things.

4.     REPUTATION: Your overall positive/negative behavior and attitude towards those around you will determine your reputation. A good reputation will endear people to you for trust.

5.     CREDIBILITY: This is the ultimate, be credible in dealings with people. Do not cut corners. Be straight forward. Such qualities will make people trust and recommend you.

6.     PERFORMANCE: When you accomplish a task/obligation with clarity of standards, completeness and speed. You come to mind as a trusted person for the job any day any time.

If we endeavor to practice all the above mentioned qualities, we shall gain people’s trust for our abilities. And it will be a positive change for us and family.