Building Performance Trust
Building Performance Trust: How to Establish and Maintain Trust in Professional Relationships
Trust is the cornerstone of any successful professional relationship. Whether it’s a client, co-worker, or boss, trust is essential in order to achieve goals, communicate effectively, and work as a team. However, building trust can be a challenge—especially in today’s fast-paced work environment, where new collaborations and projects emerge constantly.
Fortunately, there are strategies and tips that can help you establish and maintain trust in your professional relationships. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can build performance trust—a form of trust that is based on actions and outcomes, rather than words and intentions.
What Is Performance Trust?
Performance trust is a type of trust that is earned through actions and results. It is based on the belief that someone can be trusted because they consistently deliver high-quality work, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and follow through on commitments.
Performance trust is different from traditional trust, which is based on personal characteristics such as honesty, integrity, and openness. While these traits are still important in building trust, performance trust is more concrete and tangible.
In other words, performance trust is earned through doing what you say you will do and delivering results. When you establish performance trust in a professional relationship, you create a sense of security and reliability that can lead to increased productivity, efficiency, and overall success.
Tips for Building Performance Trust
Here are some strategies and tips for building performance trust in your professional relationships:
1. Be reliable and consistent.
One of the most important ways to establish performance trust is to be reliable and consistent in your actions. This means showing up on time, completing tasks on schedule, and delivering work that meets or exceeds expectations.
Consistency is key in building trust. If you promise to do something and consistently follow through, you will establish a track record of reliability that can help create performance trust. Conversely, if you fail to meet deadlines or consistently deliver subpar work, it can erode trust and damage the relationship.
2. Be clear and transparent in your communication.
Clear and transparent communication is crucial in establishing performance trust. This means being upfront and honest about your abilities, limitations, and expectations. It also means listening actively and communicating clearly so that everyone is on the same page.
When communicating with others, it’s important to be practical and realistic about what you can deliver. Don’t overpromise or make commitments that you can’t keep. Instead, be clear about what you can do and what you need in order to do it.
3. Learn to manage expectations.
Managing expectations is another important aspect of building performance trust. This involves setting expectations for yourself and others, and then following through on them. It also means being proactive in identifying potential issues or challenges and communicating them early on.
One way to manage expectations is to set clear goals and objectives for yourself and your team. This establishes a sense of direction and purpose that can guide your work and help you measure progress.
4. Be willing to ask for help.
Being open to asking for help is a sign of strength—not weakness. In fact, it can help you establish performance trust by demonstrating your willingness to collaborate and seek input from others.
When you encounter challenges or obstacles, don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from colleagues or mentors. This can help you find creative solutions and make progress more quickly.
5. Follow through on commitments.
Following through on commitments is critical in building performance trust. This means meeting deadlines, delivering high-quality work, and communicating clearly and honestly.
If you encounter unexpected challenges or delays, be proactive in communicating them and finding solutions to stay on track. Taking ownership of your commitments and following through on them can help establish a track record of reliability that can build performance trust over time.
6. Be willing to admit mistakes.
Nobody is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable in any professional relationship. However, how you handle mistakes can make all the difference in building performance trust.
When you make a mistake, take ownership of it and be willing to admit fault. This can help build trust by demonstrating your honesty and integrity. It also shows that you are committed to finding solutions and improving your performance in the future.
7. Give credit where credit is due.
Finally, one of the best ways to build performance trust is to give credit where credit is due. Acknowledging the contributions of others and sharing credit for successes can help build a sense of teamwork and collaboration.
When you give credit to others, it demonstrates your willingness to work collaboratively and recognize the contributions of others. This can help build trust and respect among your colleagues and build a stronger team overall.
Building performance trust takes time and effort, but it’s well worth the investment. By establishing a track record of reliability, clear communication, and accountability, you can build strong, long-lasting professional relationships that can lead to success for yourself and your team.