Here are seven steps people can take to trust more
prudently:
Know yourself.
Some people are overly trusting; others tend to assume the worst about others.
Find out which category you fall into so you know what to work on.
Start small. Trust
entails risk. There's no way to avoid that, but you'll minimise the risk if you
begin a relationship by taking small risks. This lets you assess the other
person's trustworthiness while sending signals that you are interested in a
mutually trusting relationship.
Write an escape
clause. If both you and the other party know that you have a backup plan,
you'll be able to engage with more commitment, knowing that the system is set
up to withstand the occasional, unavoidable mistakes that permeate any complex
organisation or social system.
Send strong signals.
If others see that you are diligent, it will deter potential predators, who are
looking for easy victims.
Recognise the other
person's dilemma. To build trust, you have to put yourself in the other
party's shoes and reassure him that you are trustworthy. A lot of leaders don't
realise that they should be doing more to communicate the importance of trust
and the fact that they are trustworthy themselves.
Look at roles as well
as people. Deep trust in a role can be a substitute for personal experience
with an individual. We trust engineers, for example, because of their training.
Remain vigilant and
always question. Questioning people we have already decided to trust is
uncomfortable but essential in cases where the stakes are high.
