Trust is the emotional glue that draws you closer to your friends, your family, and your colleagues. Teamwork without trust is impossible.
As a proverb says, “Many people claim to be loyal, but it is hard to find a trustworthy person.” That was written thousands of years ago, and yet we have the same dilemma today: Who do you trust? How do you find a trustworthy person? More importantly, how do you become a trustworthy person so that people trust you?
1. You earn people’s trust by being consistent.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Today, everybody wants to do obvious and showy things. But you actually build trust by being faithful in little things, even when no one is watching you.
2. You earn people’s trust by being trustworthy.
People trust you when you can keep information confidential. Your friends, family, and coworkers trust you to keep private whatever they share. As another proverb says, “A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Is it hard for you to keep a secret? What do you think is the motivation behind gossip?
3. You earn people’s trust by being close.
You have to spend time with people in order to earn their trust. Yet another proverb says, “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” That implies proximity. Distance creates distrust. You don’t trust people you don’t know. So if you want people to trust you, you’ve got to spend time with them. Time creates trust. Let me ask you, what sacrifices will you have to make so that you can spend time with people and earn their trust?
To summarize, if you want people to trust you, be more consistent, trustworthy, and close to the people in your life.
Excerpt taken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren.