In the last blog we saw how looking after relationships first is more important than trying to achieve something. How do you create and look after those relationships? By building trust. Whenever you are collaborating and communicating with people, if you want to have influence, building trust is a must.
How do you build trust? Think about the people you trust. Why do you trust them? Most likely you feel that they care about you, that they will consider your side. If a salesman comes and tries to sell you something but you don’t trust them, will you buy? Probably not, because you will feel they are trying to take advantage of you and harm you in some way, rather than looking after you. For someone to care about you, they have to understand you. The other reason you trust people is because they appear trustworthy. Whether it is how they look, behave, or what you know about them, you feel they are trustworthy.
Now it’s your turn. You want to communicate and influence your audience. You have read my posts so you know to use the five-step process AIMER. When you are on the first step, AUDIENCE, it is your responsibility to make sure that you start building trust and creating a relationship with your audience. Building trust means that you are going to try to learn about them as much as you can, you will take interest in them; if you are giving a presentation, you will greet people before your presentation; during your presentation, you will ask questions and engage in two-way communication. This will show your audience that you care about them, that you understand them and are trying to provide value to them. You are creating a relationship. Looking confident, will help your audience put trust in you. If you want to have influence, building trust is a must.
So how do you get your children to listen to you? The answer is the same, building trust is a must. Do you spend time building the relationship with your children? I have an 8-year old son and I know that if I want to have influence on him, especially when he becomes a teenager, I need to build trust with him and look after the relationship. My son will trust me if he feels I understand him and I have his best interest in mind. How many parents will tell their children what to do, with the excuse that it is the best for their children, when it is actually the best for the parents themselves? To communicate and have influence with your children, building trust is a must.
In communication and collaboration, first look after the relationship, then try to achieve what you are trying to achieve. To create and maintain a relationship, building trust is a must. Take interest in other people, ask them questions, try to understand them, and you will build that trust. With your children, start that process as early as possible, otherwise you may find that when they are teenagers, they may not want to listen to you anymore.
Make an impact,
Pablo
PS: let me know what you think either on social media or by email.
Image by John Hain from Pixabay.