We Need These 3 Things Before We Trust

Do you want to build greater trust in some of your relationships at work? 

Would you like to know how to help others in gaining more trust? 

Trust is the foundation of good team work and healthy relationships both inside and outside of work.  It governs all the interactions we have with each other.  Without it we have no true connection, no vulnerability and we are left with artificial harmony, ambiguity and a lack of commitment. It is something we don’t often notice until its absent. Trust or a lack of it isn’t produced through rational thought processes but processed according to a mental script we may not even know we follow unless we take the time to understand it. Here are the 3 key elements of building trust in any relationship:

Logic: Being able to back up your point of view with research and data. Identifying what matters and being able to look at situations objectively. It is about looking for the purpose or reason we are doing something. Creating some separation between your emotions and reactions. Giving sound justification and explanation for an action or event.

Authenticity: Having an independent view. Strong confidence in yourself and consistency in your talk with your actions. It’s also about showing vulnerability, admitting mistakes and having self-awareness of your strengths and gaps. Leveraging genuine relationships with others.

Empathy: Understanding others feelings + perspectives, focusing on relationships and enjoying helping others. It’s about building connections quickly and being clear that your agenda is for the greater good, not self-driven. Anticipating the needs of others and wanting to meet this over proving that someone is right or wrong.

When all 3 exist in a relationship trust will be there according to Dr Francis Frei. You can learn more about this, her experience in working with Uber and how to rebuild trout when it’s broken in her Ted Talk.