Tag: trust

Standing out

Are you eager to stand out? How are you going about it?

Are you trying to differentiate based on something you own or have built over the years?

Or are you trying to embellish accomplishments? Representing something as bigger than what it is. A “small” enhancement to start with that may soon develop into a habit to exaggerate. Especially, as you grow up the ladder.

For example,
“I was a part of the team that …” may become “I led the team that …”. Over a period of time it may morph into taking sole credit.    
Or misstating of numbers – revenue, profit, cost saved etc.

Trust is an important aspect of building your life and career. When you exaggerate, you seed distrust. People do see through eventually, if not immediately.  

Be connected to reality. Avoid exaggeration.

Remember:
“If you add to the truth, you subtract from it.” – The Talmud


Photo by Em M. on Unsplash

Building Trust

How do your customers choose who to work with? Turns out trust plays a major role.

How do you build trust?

Here is a simple equation by David Maister to the rescue.

T = (C + R + I) / S

T: Trust
C: Credibility – Words – Do you (appear to) know what you are talking about?
R: Reliability – Actions – Do you walk the talk? Do what you say?
I: Intimacy – Emotions/Feeling – Do you exude a sense of safety, security and comfort? Can things be shared with you?
S: Self-orientation – Motives – Are you acting in your own self-interest?

Take a customer or a key person in your life. Reflect how you are doing on each of the above. Is there any specific area you can work on to build trust?