Trust is a funny thing. We all want to be trusted, but are we trustworthy? Do we really hold the trust that others have in us in high esteem?

Trust is a fragile thing. It must be nurtured and cared for if it's going to grow. Trust is build over time. It doesn't just happen. Throughout our lives we're given countless opportunities to show whether or not we can be trusted. Whether you're aware of it or not, people see who and what you are, and they remember. Look at your own life, we all have people we know that we just don't trust. It may be someone you've never even had a personal issue with, but you see how they acted with someone else. That action, though not about you, affected the level of trust you feel toward that person.

Trust is about more than just honesty. It's about how you treat other people. Do you talk about them when they're not around? If you talk to me about someone behind their back, what are you saying about me when I'm not around?

How do you treat commitments? Do you do what you say you'll do? Do you follow through? If You can't be counted on to do what you say, I won't trust you to handle my affairs.

Do you use inside knowledge for personal advantage? If you use something someone has shared with you against them, or use that knowledge as leverage against someone else, I have no reason to think that you won't do the same with me.

To trust and be trusted is a power thing. It's the thing strong relationships are built on, both in business and our personal lives. If your relationships are struggling, chances are it's a matter of trust.

Learn more about this author, Jim Smoot.
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