To quote Jack Byrnes from the movie “Meet the Parents” – “Are you in the circle of trust?”
A recent search for an architect reminded me of the importance of trust not only in personal relationships, but also for business transactions. To help find the right professional for the job, I spent time researching online, obtaining referrals from family and friends, and meeting and talking face-to-face with a number of architects. However, at the end of the day, my decision was based on initial rapport with the architect and a leap of faith he/she would deliver what they promised.
Effective business relationships are like a marriage. They are based on trust and mutual respect. Remember building trust takes time but is easily lost.
My top 10 tips for building and maintaining trust with your business partners are to:
- Be yourself. Let the other party see your personality and show a genuine interest.
- Take time to listen and understand the other person’s feelings and requirements.
- Be open and transparent. Ensure there’s a written agreement that clarifies the project objective, scope and full costs. Any assumptions and components not covered by the project should be clearly stated.
- Deliver on what you promise. Follow-up your commitments in an efficient and timely manner.
- Aim for a “win-win” and ensure you have the other party’s interest at heart.
- Don’t compromise integrity. If something does not feel comfortable, or is morally questionable, then explain how you feel and provide a rationale for your actions.
- Build rapport and maintain regular communication to avoid potential misunderstanding.
- Admit when you’re wrong or at fault, and rectify the situation immediately.
- Take pride in your work and always adopt a professional approach.
- Accept that sometimes there may be a difference of opinion and work together to find a mutually beneficial solution.
However, trust is like a mirror…..once it’s BROKEN you can never look at it the same again – so make sure you nurture it.
