Social trust serves as the primary social currency which individuals utilize to establish relationships with others in their environment. People use their first meetings with others to judge their trustworthiness because they lack sufficient information to establish trust. The particular subtle abilities which you will learn to develop will enable you to show your trustworthiness while showing your authentic self to people who will then decide whether to trust you.
Master the “Slow Smile”
People who experience fast nervous smiles create an impression that they are attempting to perform an incorrect smiling technique. You must practice the slow smile method because it requires you to do so. You should maintain eye contact until you show your most genuine smile after your first encounter. Your smile shows authenticity because you use it to greet the person who is present.
Keep Your Hands Visible
People who keep their hands hidden create dangerous situations because their hidden hands enable them to conceal weapons according to evolutionary researchers. People continue to doubt hand concealment methods because these methods maintain public perception of unreliability which results in ongoing trust issues. You should keep your hands visible while you perform regular gestures because this behavior shows that you do not have anything to hide.
Use “Active Listening” Cues
Trust begins to develop when people recognize that you have successfully understood their spoken words. You should use the small verbal and non-verbal cues to create your present state of presence through nodding and saying “I see” and “That makes sense.” You demonstrated active listening by showing the listener that you understood their complete message.
Admit Small Flaws
People become suspicious when they encounter someone who appears to have achieved complete perfection. The act of confessing one small error and one minor flaw like saying “I have some anxiety about this presentation” shows that you possess human qualities. Your authentic behavior enables people to trust in your capabilities after they perceive your genuine nature.
Maintain Consistent Eye Contact
People should not stare at each other for the entire duration of their eye contact. According to the “golden rule” people should maintain eye contact for 60-70% of their conversation time. The people who believe in their abilities demonstrate this through their interest in other people. Your behavior of looking away from people while you scan your environment creates an impression that you want to obscure things from others.
Practice the “Recall” Technique
People will trust you when you include small details from prior discussions into your current conversations. You use someone’s special name to ask about their work status which shows that you value them. Your way of interacting with others goes beyond basic conversation.
Respect Personal Space
Trust needs a secure environment because it requires people to feel secure about themselves. You create the fight or flight response when you stand too close to someone who has just met you. People need an extra few inches of personal space because it shows that you respect their boundaries while being aware of their needs which helps them feel safe around you.
Follow Through on Small Promises
Trust develops through the daily interactions which people experience during their life. You should bring the specific book which you promised to deliver. Your email delivery should occur at 5 PM because you made that commitment. Your ability to maintain commitment to major responsibilities depends on your track record of honoring all minor commitments.
Use Their Name (Sparingly)
According to research a person’s name represents their most important auditory experience. The name usage in conversation enables people to establish an instant personal connection which facilitates their communication with others. The action shows you see them as a unique person which creates a basis of respect and trust between you both.
