Trustworthiness is about doing what you say you are going to do – but it is just a part of trust, not the whole story. After all, hit-men deliver on their promises. We wouldn’t call them trustworthy individuals, would we? Trust is not as simple as delivering on your promises. Today, through social media, everyone has a powerful voice. The industrial revolution empowered companies, now the social revolution is empowering individuals.
Components of trust
Academic research in this field suggests that trustworthiness consists of following elements:
- ability
- integrity
- benevolence
When even just one of these elements is weak, there will be no trust. Even if you deliver all your promises, if you are dishonest or cruel, people will not trust you.
Building trustworthiness
The research of one of the authors published on the management-issues.com website suggests that there are nine behavioral habits that, put together, constitute trustworthiness. Each of them can be assigned to those three principles of ability, integrity and benevolence.
Are you and your organization trustworthy?
Reliable delivery is only one of the nine components that are necessary to inspire trust in your colleagues. Remember to avoid costly errors when you are planning to build a trustworthy reputation, be it as an individual, working on a team or in the organization as a whole. Delivering on your promises is actually only the basic entry-level requirement.
- Can you help others deliver on their promises (coaching)?
- Are you honest, open and modest (integrity)?
- Do you make personal sacrifices for the good of others (moral bravery)?
- Do you share the good news of your vision in a passionate and consistent way, even when conditions are adverse (evangelism)?
- Are you willing to care for more than just the profit motive to be kind to your stakeholders (kindness)?
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