Building Trust: How To Get It! How To Keep It!

by Hyler Bracey

We’re talking about the kind of caring that, if I had an issue with you, you believe that I would come and talk to you about it in a way that you would know I care about you and our relationship. That’s not soft caring but tough caring. It says that, no matter what negative criticism or strong emotion you bring to me, I will deal with it in a way that respects and protects you and our relationship. In speeches, before I discuss caring as a key element in trust-building, I ask people in the audience, “Identify one person, besides your parents, who had a positive effect on you and whom you consider as an ideal leader, teacher, coach or boss.” I ask them to clearly picture a scene with that person and “watch how they related to you, because that person has the qualities that you will need if you want to build strong, trusting, supportive and productive relationships with others.”