Winning others Trust II

How do you earn others’ trust? Here are several ways:

Be sincere. Demonstrate your conviction that your idea is worth other’s time and attention. When people see you a sincere and committed, they will more likely trust you.

Build a track record of trustworthiness. Follow through on the promises and commitments you’ve made. Share or give credit to those who contribute good ideas. Present consistent values. By behaving in a trustworthy manner, you earn a reputation for being trustworthy.

Encourage the exploration of ideas. To encourage dialogue and demonstrate your openness to others’ perspectives, listen to their concerns. Establish an environment where all your colleagues can share their ideas and know that their opinions are valued.

Put other’s best interests first. When people believe that you have their interests in mind, they tend to trust you and your ideas. For instance, suppose a marketing director helps a valued subordinate get promoted to a different department. Although the marketing director knows it’s difficult to lose a top-notch team member, she accepts that her job includes helping others develop their professional skills. In addition to helping her subordinate, th marketing director ears the trust of her subordinate and the other department head—trust that may come in handy in the future.

Use candor. When you own up to your flaws, people see you as a truthful person—on the assumption that most individuals try to conceal their faults. Thus, an honest acknowledgement of any weaknesses in your proposal can help build trust with your audience.

ACTION POINT: Build a track record of trustworthiness through candor, by putting their interests first, being open to their ideas with sincerity.