If people trust you, they are more likely to do business with you. Many ingredients go into the recipe for trust. Let’s consider a few of the important ones.
None of us is perfect and we all make mistakes. How you handle those mistakes is what really matters. Do not make excuses, point fingers or blame anyone else. Simply accept responsibility and solve the problem.
Be sure to develop systems to avoid making the same mistake in the future. If people perceive you as accountable for your mistakes, it is easier for them to trust you.
Reliability is the yeast that makes the trust rise.
Can you be trusted to do you do what you say you will do? Do you show up to work and other meetings on time? Think of the non-profits you volunteer with. Can they count on you to get things done for the organization, even when you are not being paid?
A sprinkle of credibility allows people to trust what you say is true. It can be anything from work related topics to a political opinion. Are your statements backed by knowledge and fact? Have you explored all of the options and considered opposing positions? Are your solutions well thought out?
A dash of loyalty goes a long way towards establishing trust. Can people count on you to be there for them, especially when the going gets tough?
The final ingredient is the stock that holds everything together, your integrity. Do you do the right thing every time, even when no one else is watching? If you found an envelope full of cash in a shopping cart at the grocery store, would you turn it in? Do you ever sell products and services to someone who might not need it?
Spend time developing these personality characteristics and your trust factor will go up. People will do more business with you, and you will have more good friends too.
