Understanding Precipitates Trust

Do you ever stop to think why you behave, make decisions and interact with people the way you do?  In our office we think about it a lot, as part of our pre-screening for employment involves a personality test called a Strengths Assessment.  The results allow us to make sense of how people act and work in certain ways.  For example, a highly relational person will manage a staff in a different way than a person whose strength is executing. They may both have the ability to do the job, but it will look differently. This tool is helpful in painting a clear picture of a candidate and determining fit for a company culture. When we understand someone’s perspective, it facilitates the foundation of trust. 

Last month, we looked at the first part of our company motto: “Value your people.”  The second part of the slogan is “Trust our process.”  Trust is the cornerstone of all relationships, including business connections.  In his book, “Talking to Strangers”, Malcolm Gladwell explains that our human nature has a default to trust, which can lead to disappointment; however, we cannot operate in life without the element of trust.

“To assume the best about another is the trait that has created modern society. Those occasions when our trusting nature gets violated are tragic. But the alternative - to abandon trust as a defense against predation and deception - is worse.”― Malcolm Gladwell

We trust that the other drivers will follow the rules of the road, we trust that the chair lift taking us up the ski hill is engineered soundly, we trust that the contractor with whom we made a down payment will not pack up and move to South America.  We also must place trust in our employees to do their job, otherwise we risk micro-managing, creating an unhealthy work environment.  You need to trust your colleagues in order to work collaboratively and productively. To not trust is to not function in the world.

Of course, it’s wise to be discerning and proceed cautiously with new people, as there are schemers and swindlers and liars and cheats.  We can’t live naively or with blind trust.  Trust is often earned and proved by an observed pattern of behavior. According to psychologytoday.com “trust is a belief in a probability that a person will behave in certain ways.”  The way we build trust is by being transparent, keeping promises, honest communication, accepting responsibility and proving competence. 

We have found that the best business partnerships are the ones who understand the value of our services and trust that we will deliver on our promises.  A valued client testified, “I had a recommendation from another municipality to contact Hire Standard, and this person said trust their process.  That became our mantra through each of the hires” – Mayor Gordon Reynolds, Town of Bow Island.

We have also learned over the years that trust is not something to be taken for granted.  If we make a mistake, fall short of expectations or disappoint in anyway, we are not content until we make it right and restore the trust. We have a proven recruiting process that involves the sorting of applications, interviewing and background screening.  We genuinely want what is best for our client and work diligently until we find the best employee for fit, ability and long-term retention.

Whether you are dealing with employees, customers, contractors, people in the community or personal connections, make the effort to engage, inquire, relate to and understand the people in your life.  Having compassion and reasonable expectations of others will mitigate conflict and foster healthy, amicable and trusting relationships.