We all want coworkers we can trust. And bosses, and friends. But how can we build that trust? How can we be trustworthy and build better relationships at work and in our personal lives?

Trust is like the air we breathe: It is essential for our survival, but most of the time we take it for granted. Despite this, it only takes a minute in a place without fresh air to realize how valuable it is and how much we miss it…

Likewise, trust is the foundation of our lives, without which we simply would not function. How do we know that the building we are in will not collapse? Or that the water we drink is safe to drink? We trust people every day and take it for granted. But as soon as we work or deal with someone we do not trust, we realize how much more difficult everything becomes… simple situations become complicated, small problems become bigger, and things that could be resolved in an instant drag on for weeks…

Let's discover 4 principles that can help us strengthen trust in the relationships we have at work and at home:
1st – Address by name and maintain a good mood

Taking care to know people's names and greeting them with a smile is one of the easiest things to do and has the greatest impact. If we let go of our insecurities, we humanize relationships and bring joy to others.

2nd – Discover people and common interests

We naturally gravitate towards people who have similar experiences to us. Did we grow up in the same area? Do we have friends in common? Do we like the same club, film or book? Ask around to find out, and if not, let’s look for a common enemy. There’s nothing like a little shared hatred to strengthen the bond between two people.

3rd – Reveal something about ourselves

We have all experienced the feeling of comfort when someone we admire shares a sincere difficulty. Our natural impulse is not to criticize or mock, but rather to say, “I would like to help, I have been through my difficulties too…”, and we automatically feel a stronger connection. To have a trusting relationship, we do not need to have all the certainties and answers; on the contrary: we need to nurture the courage to be vulnerable.

4th – Deliver on your promises

We all know people we like but would never ask to solve a problem for us, because we would never know if they would do it. On the contrary, there are people who are trustworthy, and that is why they become trustworthy. There is nothing like honoring what we said we would do; it is a service to the other person and to our relationship.

Trust rests.

If we trust someone, we can simply enjoy the other person's company, without having to be alert and worried. Trust saves us a lot of problems and gives us free time, because relationships flow naturally and without surprises.

Do I want to live more peacefully and have better personal relationships?

So this week let's try to invest in trust with the people around me.