Trust is a rare thing these days.
Words like character, integrity, and honor don’t seem to mean much anymore in business relationships.
What powers the success of millionaires—and billionaires—are high-trust relationships.
Without profitable partnerships, you’ll never experience breakthrough success.
You need a Dream Team of talented people you can trust so you don’t get taken for a ride.
But if you only pay attention to scandals and negative news, you might think character has gone out of style.
But character never goes out of style.
If you’re ever going to experience long-term, over-the-top success, you have to be someone other people can trust.
You Can Build Trust with These Simple Tips
1. Always Do The Right Thing
The time is always right to do the right thing. —Martin Luther King, Jr.
You always have to make decisions, but usually knowing the right thing to do isn’t a mystery.
Do it no matter what—especially if it’s difficult.
You’ll stand out!
2. Say What You’re Going to Do and Follow Through
“Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.” —Zig Ziglar
Your word is your bond.
Your grandfather told you the same thing didn’t he?
It’s still true today.
Think before you speak, but when you do, be clear and follow through.
3. Over-Communicate
“A lack of clarity could put the brakes on any journey to success.” —Steve Maraboli
You are never as clear as you think you are.
So always make the extra effort to over-communicate.[Tweet ““A lack of clarity could put the brakes on any journey to success.” —Steve Maraboli”]
Say it again, and again, and again, until you are sure you’ve made your point.
Then ask others to play it back to you so you know you achieved the goal.
4. Ask Clarifying Questions
“Questions are the answer.” —Zig Ziglar
The quickest way to achieve clarity is to ask questions.
It makes the person you are talking to feel valued.
It ensures that you have an understanding of what they really want.
One of the best ways to build trust is to deliver what someone really wants. How do you know?
Ask. Listen. Act.
5. Value Long-Term Relationships over Short-Term Success
The most productive business relationships span years, not just transactions.
One of my most memorable business relationships was with Arnold Morris, the man who introduced me to Ginsu knives.
He was an extraordinary sales person and terrific guy.
I had watched him at a booth in Philadelphia as he sliced through pieces of shoe leather, a Coca-Cola can, and even a car muffler and the head of a metal hammer.
Then he proved the knife still wasn’t the least bit dull by cutting tomatoes into thin slices.
He had been selling knives for more than two decades when we first met and had his sales presentation honed to an art form.[Tweet “If you’re ever going to experience long-term, over-the-top success, you have to be someone other people can trust.”]
I saw a win-win opportunity by turning his presentation into an infomercial—actually before anyone coined the term infomercial, I called it sell-e-vision.
To make a long story short, we partnered together to bring the Ginsu knives to America and the rest is history.
Best of all, we BOTH made a lot of money, because it was important to me that Arnold won at a time when some of my competitors were taking advantage of people with promising products.
Here’s the thing: because of the way I treated him, Arnold then brought more products to me like the Daily Mixer.
In fact, just days before Arnold passed, he reached out again wanting to send more opportunities my way because of the relationship we had built.
6. Give Sincere Compliments
I can live two months on a good compliment. —Mark Twain
Start your business conversation by sincerely complimenting the other person or sharing genuine thanks.
Look for something positive and you’ll be surprised at how often you find it.
Watch how it changes the course of the conversation.
People open up to trust someone who sincerely cares and encourages them.
7. Show Your Appreciation and Concern
You’ve heard it before: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
When you appreciate something someone did, tell them.
They can’t read your mind.
There is more to people than meets the eye but they’ll only share when they trust you. Show care, concern, and compassion and you’ll connect on a deeper level.
8. Help Others Get What They Want
You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want. —Zig Ziglar
I call it the core secret from my mentor, Zig Ziglar, because it unlocks all the other secrets in life.
It’s a philosophy, not a tactic. Don’t think you can manipulate your way to trust.
Be the person in someone’s corner who helps them reach a goal, overcome a challenge, or believe in themselves.
You’ll have an ally for life.
9. Stand Up for the People under You
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” —Jack Welch
Leadership is about more than being in charge.[Tweet “Leadership is about more than being in charge.”]
It comes with the responsibility to take the heat and share the credit.
When your team comes under fire, can they count on your being out in front—or hiding under the desk in your office?
10. Give More Than You Take
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” —Winston Churchill
Keep a mental account of what you take from others, be it advice, a favor, or a connection.
Be sure that for every one you take, you give two or more.
11. Respect Where Others Are Coming From
“First seek to understand, then to be understood.” —Stephen R. Covey
No one has walked the same path as you.
And no one has walked the same path as the other person in your business relationship.
You both have an incredible opportunity to learn and grow—if you have the right mindset.
Respect where others are coming from first, and you just might find common ground.
12. Take More of The Blame and Less of the Credit
People with a style of denial and blaming are definitely on the list of unsafe people to avoid. —Dr. Henry Cloud
When something doesn’t go right in business, don’t blame someone else as your knee-jerk reaction.
Start by examining your own actions. What could you have done better.
Shoulder the blame for a loss. Shift the credit for success to others.
People will respect you for it.
13. Create Mutually-Beneficial Relationships
“You don’t have to blow out the other person’s light to let your own shine.” —Bernard M. Baruch
You have strengths and weaknesses.
Other people have strengths and weaknesses.
Great partnerships are mutually-beneficial and smooth out the rough spots.
Think win-win and you’ll be poised for multiplication, not just addition.
14. Be Honest, But Be Kind
Honesty is always the best policy. People know when you’re blowing smoke.
But be kind when speaking the truth to others.
There’s no need shatter or crush their dreams.
With all the pitches I’ve heard over the decades, I’ve often had to share my honest opinion with entrepreneurs who had a dream—that simply wasn’t going to work.
Some people seem to delight in crushing the dreams of others, but I never saw the need to do that.
I want to empower entrepreneurs, not crush them.
Tell them the truth but be kind and look out for their feelings.
15. Admit Your Mistakes
“A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.” —Alexander Pope
You will make mistakes.
Everyone knows that.
You can build trust by admitting your mistakes and showing that you’re willing to learn from them.
16. Be Transparent about What You’re Learning
Some people are afraid to let anyone know they’re learning anything.
They think it’s a sign of weakness.
Just the opposite.
It shows that you’re interested in self-improvement and personal growth.
Plus it gives you an opportunity for dialogue—and to keep learning from others.
17. Guide Others to Become Better
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” —Charles Dickens
You wouldn’t be where you are without help from other people.[Tweet “You wouldn’t be where you are without help from other people.”]
Become known as the kind of person who helps other people grow and improve.
And you will become the first person people call when they have an opportunity as a result of their improvements.
Follow these 17 tips to become a person others trust and your success will skyrocket—100X!
Remember, character NEVER goes out of style.
