One doesn’t have to look far in any direction be it political, corporate, or community to see that trust is at an all-time low.
According to the latest CNN poll, just 13% of Americans agree that the U.S. government “can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time.” And, the number of individuals who trust the government all or most of the time has sunk so low “that it is hard to remember that there was ever a time when Americans routinely trusted the government,” said Keating Holland, the head of CNN Polling.
But the lack of trust isn’t limited to government entities. The CNN poll also reveals that the number of Americans who trust corporations is similarly abysmal: just 17%. When put in a different perspective, low trust equals low productivity and significantly higher cost.
The lack of trust is also prevalent in our neighborhoods. Just ask the citizens in Missouri or Baltimore who and what they trust.
However, everyone knows this. The lack of trust is broadcast 24/7 throughout the media and social media channels. So what do we do about it? How do we learn to trust?
How many times have you heard the phrase “trust me?” Political campaigns are built on the request for trust as these words “I am asking you to trust me,” are repeated at every campaign stump. In recent negotiations with a foreign country, the US officials issued a statement saying that “we must trust the other side.”
Trust cannot exist upon or as a result of a request. According to the dictionary trust is a result of an action. Until there is an action, there can be no trust. But it doesn’t stop there. If you want me to trust you, then the action has to be seen by me. It is also important to understand that when the action stops, so does trust.
When the urge strikes to utter the words trust me to someone, instead consider what actions could replace those words. Showing up in an authentic, genuine and consistent manner each day might be one way to build trust. Ensuring that values take precedence over personality is another.
Maybe, just maybe, the answer to turning things around is finding ways to stop talking and start earning.
After all, Trust Matters! Build some today!
Editor’s note: Share how you’ve built trust with someone today on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you.
