subject: Peace, Goodwill Towards Men, and Trust [print this page] Peace, Goodwill Towards Men, and Trust Peace, Goodwill Towards Men, and Trust
During this holiday season, we are constantly bombarded with advertisementstelling us how happy our family will beif we buy that new Lexus or promising uswarm, fuzzy family reunions with loved onestraveling from West Africaif we purchase that specific brand of coffee. Despite theblatant commercialism that keeps our economy going, the holidays truly are about our relationships with others and not all the "stuff". Whether it is the office party or a Christmas Eve family tradition, relationshipsare core to the human experience.
Trust, as a noun, is the core ofthese relationships both personal and professional. Trust, as a verb, takes the combined efforts of two people who have a commitment to developing a relationship based on honest, consistent, and positive interactions.
How do we build trust? Trust with co-workers can be built using daily positive interactions.At some level, both people accept a certain amount of vulnerability. Vulnerability in this instance should not be seen as an element of weakness but rather as an element of strength. We cannot grow personally or professionally without "putting ourselves out there", embracing the possibility of rejection or failure, and learning more about ourselves and others. If we don't ever just trust someone first, we will never fully experience the reward ofknowing someone (including ourselves) on a deeper, more personal level.
Likewise, trust must also be earned. We will be more likely to earn a person's respect and trust if we first demonstrate that we are trustworthy. Clearly communicatingourexpectations of othersbuilds trust. It is unfair to expect others to read our minds or interpret our emotions. Likewise, setting realistic expectations of others will alsobuild trust and create an environment of successrather thanfailure.
So this holiday season, give the gift of your trust. Things may make us happy for the short-term, but healthyrelationships with othersrewards us with a lifetime of friends, family, and memories regardless of thecar we drive orthe brand ofcoffee we serve. Happy Holidays!
