Trust lies at the heart of effective relationships. Whether in or out of the workplace, trust generates feelings of goodwill and enables successful collaboration and more productive outcomes. When there is trust, things go more smoothly. Being trustworthy is about being honest and authentic. It is about acting with integrity, showing consistency, and being credible. If you are trusted, it means others can count on you to deliver and to look after their highest interests. Trust is based on reciprocity—you need to give it to get it.
Gaining confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
You show this competency when you:
- Follow through on commitments
- Are seen as direct and truthful
- Keep confidences
- Practice what you preach
- Show consistency between words and actions
How to develop this competency:
If people perceive you to care about your own agenda more than the team’s agenda, they may have doubts as to whether or not you will operate in their best interests. Talk in terms of “we” instead of “I.” Recognize others’ contributions and give credit where it is due. Trust has been shown to be built through self-sacrifice. Show that you are willing to sacrifice your own luxury for the benefit of the team.
Trust is often broken when a person says one thing and does something else. Having integrity means representing yourself accurately. If you are not sure whether there is a gap between your words and actions, ask someone you trust for feedback, and then you can begin to close those gaps.
Some people are viewed as untrustworthy because they’ve shared information intended to be kept confidential. Always keep personal information someone shares to yourself, and read and follow your organization’s guiding principles. Information that compromises someone’s safety or breaches of legal and ethical principles cannot guarantee confidentiality, but in general, err on the side of discretion.
Resources
- Video: TED: Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe
- LinkedIn Learning: IU Staff Core Competency - Instills Trust
- Article: TED: How Showing Vulnerability Helps Build a Stronger Team
- Article: Forbes: Trust Me! Why you Need to Understand Trust, And How to Earn It
- Article: HBR: Proven Ways to Earn Your Employees’ Trust
- Book: The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen Covey