The Trust factor

Words - What do they mean?

The intent or the content, some may ask. For someone who used to focus on the content or rather the way the content was delivered, I have learnt to look more to the intent as the years pass. Not that the former is any less important but, in the context of meaningful and long-lasting relationships, TRUST is certainly an important component. Trust is built through clarifying one's intent so as to minimise miscommunication. I have to admit that it can get pretty tiring, especially among close friends (cos we take it for granted that they SHOULD know). Truth is that, no matter how well a person knows u, there is no sidestepping the need to build and restore trust. It's a variable and it is fragile. So, handle with care. Once broken, there is a price to pay. The good thing is that, overtime, when trust builds up, there is lesser need to explain ourselves or even, to defend our intentions.

2 things I have learnt along the years and still learning:

" Judge others by their intentions, not by their behavior"

"Handle others with your heart and yourself with your mind"   

As Steven Covey said in his book Speed of Trust, the 4 things to build trust are: Integrity, Intent, Capabilities and Results. Starting from the bottom, with integrity at the root of building trust. Great qualities but reflected in the little things we do on a daily basis.