Volume XXII, Number 39 (Issue 1095) | September 23, 2024
Who Do You Trust?
Mutual trust is central to the formation and maintenance of a healthy relationship. Without it, much of what we think of as communication is guarded out of concern an open and honest sharing of thoughts and feelings might be held or used against us. As it is, we have difficulty expressing ourselves in ways others will understand and appreciate due to the numerous imperfections in our language. Add vagaries of tone, timing, context, non-verbal communication elements, and our personal collection of biases and it is easy to see why relationships can fail to launch or having launched go off the rail.
Which brings us to the basis for our willingness to trust. Much of the time our ability to trust is the result of personal experience. Through a series of interactions and direct observations we learn that someone is trustworthy. While this approach is usually reliable, it requires time for the trust to develop. And, if we have been burned in the past, the time required to establish a trusting relationship is exponentially longer. Other times trust results from careful research (a bit of fact checking), or it may be transferred based on the testimony of credible third parties.
I mention this for two reasons. First, it fits well with last week’s message. Second, we are deep into the election cycle where politicians of every stripe and at every level are working hard to gain our trust and support (as in vote and money) so they can be elected/reelected. In an ideal world, they are campaigning on the promise to represent us and our interests in the halls of government. Unfortunately, we know from experience that many of the promises being made are hollow, impractical, or both. We also know many of the statements they are making about their positions past and present as well as those of their opposition are stretching the facts if not patently false. So, who do you trust? Who do you choose to support? For whom do you vote? The long and the short of it is people operating in the political arena are trying to sell themselves to the voting public. The sad reality is some are selling their souls in the process.
In the final analysis each of us is selling something. We begin our sales career fresh from the womb when we make it known we are hungry, we need to be changed, we want to be held and comforted. As small children we let it be known we want (need) that box of cereal, that treat, that toy on the shelf. As young teens we start marketing ourselves to those we find attractive in the hopes of securing a date and maybe a relationship. Soon we are pitching ourselves to prospective employers and not long after that we are positioning ourselves to win a promotion or two. Underlying it all we seek to be trusted in ways that are meaningful in the moment. When we consistently do the right thing, we earn the trust and successes we seek. But do or say the wrong thing and that trust is quickly and often irreparably lost. No news there.
As one who has spent a career as a consultant, I am constantly selling ideas and solutions to clients. Before I can accomplish that, I must sell myself and my services. These days I/we rely on the goodwill and support of happy clients to create the trust needed to gain new clients. That is, we let our work and clients speak for us as the primary means to establish the degree of trust a potential client needs to sign on the dotted line. Such an approach only works if we have consistently met or exceeded the expectations of others. To enjoy success over the long-haul, be it in one’s business or personal life, one must be trustworthy. It is as simple and as difficult as that.
Soli Deo Gloria
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210)260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
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