Trust is given to us by others. We have to earn it, and we usually don’t recognize its importance until it is gone. So how can we increase the trust that others put into us?
Why do you trust the people you trust? Trust is gained by being consistent, being competent, and being positively connected with others.
One way to make yourself more trustworthy is to develop your character. Your character displays to others the traits that make you trustworthy.
1. Consistency: Your decisions and actions are driven by your values. Knowing your values and following your values will make you more consistent.
2. Competency: Without developing the required skills, people will find it difficult to trust you. Would you have dental work performed by someone that has not developed the proper skills? In the same manner, people rarely follow people that have not developed their leadership skills.
3. Connection: Trust is all about how people see you. Putting other people first, and creating a positive relationship will enable the connection you need for trust.
Practice becoming the person you want to be, and people will identify you as being trustworthy.