In the final part of this series based on Stephen Covey's bestseller "The Speed of Trust" we will explore how to leverage trust.

Trust appropriately

Trust is the foundation of rich, productive relationships. It facilitates meaningful connections with others, helping you get more done and be more efficient.

However, that does not mean that one should blindly trust every person with everything. It is important to exercise good judgement when deciding who to trust with what.

Remember, trust is making something important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else. You should default to trust over suspicion whilst maintaining a high vigilance for potential risks.

A word of warning! As humans we are biologically programmed for trust. We also often tend to think ourselves as less likely to experience unfortunate events and more likely to experience fortunate events compared to others. We therefore misjudge the probability of a bad outcome due to misplaced trust. Stay vigilant for red flags!

Spheres of Trust

The benefits of trust begin with you and radiate outwards.

1. Self Trust

Trust begins with the self. Covey believe that self-trust is a function of harmony between your principles, your motives, your capabilities, and your track record. Any dissonance between the person you think you are and your behaviour can erode your self-trust. Living in accordance with our values is one way we develop self-trust, which leads to greater confidence.

Self-trust is connected to the concept of "self-efficacy" which has been linked to resilience, performance and improved mental health. It's really important!

After all, whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right.

2. Interpersonal Trust

If you're a trustworthy person, you consistently demonstrate your values and people notice. This builds trust because people know what to expect from you.

It's worth noting that whilst people are often willing to forgive breaches of trust involving capabilities and track record, they are much less willing when it comes to breaches involving principles and motives. Consistency is key!

3. Team Trust

Covey highlights a bunch of symptoms of low team trust and suggests what you can do to improve it.

Read here for more information on this.

4. Reputation

This sphere encompasses the way your organisation is viewed by the rest of the world. People are more likely to trust your company when they see alignment between its nature (mission statement, values etc.) and its track record.

I think it goes without saying that organisations that are perceived as trustworthy reap a huge benefit.

5. Collective Trust

Trust is integral to a functioning society. But with more options than ever and relationships becoming more numerous but less personal, knowing when and how to trust is becoming more difficult.

This means that increasingly, people are gravitating towards organisations and individuals who can demonstrate their trustworthiness. This should be seen as a competitive advantage for those companies that are able to gain the trust of modern customers.