Cracking the Trust Code: IQ, EQ, and the Power of Building Trust

What is trust?

Trust is the building block of all successful interpersonal relationships, both personal and business. The trust is an integration of the following words for a leader.

T = Truthful

R= Rationale /Logic

U= Unbiased

S= Support/ Empathy

T= Time ( Timeliness )

We consider trust to be incredibly valuable, as it forms the foundation of all our actions as civilized individuals. Trust is intertwined with both our personal and professional lives, influencing our decisions. This may explain why we dedicate our time to earning money and then use it to obtain the products and services we need.

Trust is the common thread that links humans with one another, with a higher power, and even with animals, creating meaningful connections in our lives. . Trust embodies the confidence and faith an individual places in a specific person or group.

Zak in his article “ The Neuroscience of Trust” provided statistics on the benefit of trust for people working at high-trust companies, when compared to those in low-trust companies.

• 74% less stress

• 106% more energy at work

• 50% higher productivity

• 13% fewer sick days

• 76% more engagement

• 29% greater life satisfaction

• 40% less burnout

Indeed, trust brings more energy and higher engagement. Building trust is more like building a DNA of people focus and a successful organization. Though trust as the letter only 5 words, it brings the most power people management principle in my opinion.

Trust is a powerful cornerstone of engaging the workforce, can we build trust?

Building trust isn't easy; it requires consistency, honesty, and effort. It's a delicate foundation for relationships, both personal and professional.

Zak found eight things that managers can do to build trust and make people feel good:

• Say when someone does something great.

• Give people challenging tasks.

• Let them choose how to do their job.

• Help them shape their job.

• Share information with everyone.

• Try to make friends with your team.

• Support their personal growth.

• Be open about your own mistakes.

The formula I proposed for trust is simple

Trust = EQ X IQ

IQ measures cognitive intelligence and problem-solving abilities, while EQ focuses on emotional awareness and interpersonal skills.

In my view, the formula helps to collate the building blocks to build the trust.

Establishing trust within the workplace is crucial for cultivating enduring, fulfilling, and prosperous relationships. Effective managers can enhance trust by undergoing leadership training, where they learn and practice behaviors aimed at fostering and nurturing trust-based connections.

To conclude, Mahatma Gandhi once said " You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

While this quote is not explicitly about trust, it conveys the idea that trust and positive change start with one's own actions and integrity.

What is your formula for trust?

Reference

https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust