The ability to trust others

Visualize a bridge: two ways, very well built, shining under the sun. Cars, bicycles, people, everything cross from one side to the other, which could be from an island to the continent or a land split in two by a river.

There are some fundamental elements for the bridge to exist, and these elements are also present in human bridges.

We create bridges between ourselves and other people, our jobs, the government, neighbors, etc. As islands, we extend our world, learn and teach, we share and experience, we experiment with this relationship with others.

Some bridges are temporary while others are eternal. Some break after a hurricane, others just need a small rain to cease existing.

Trust is a crucial element for that bridge. It is not easy to conquer and it has a huge impact in everything you do. In everything we do: part of the economic crisis is the lack of confidence by investors; wars start when all trust ends; brands grow and have success if people trust them, and even this blog is only read because people trust in what I tell them.

But, let's not talk about generating trust. Instead of that, how to trust others? After all, if you get enrolled into a company, you don't have a choice... Either you trust your co-workers, boss and the company itself, or you will feel you are working in hell.

The same happens when you are born in a family or when you get married and you have to trust your family in-law.

To trust others is also a skill you can develop, which includes a few steps. If you feel you are in an environment where you are having a hard time, perhaps this will help you:

• The trust you have in others is based in whatever trust you have for yourself. Yes, others are mirrors... If you are ugly or you have a bad case of baldness, perhaps you won't like your image, but that does not mean it is false. Whomever you don't trust, check the reasons in your own self. Perhaps there is some lack of clarity for the objective of your job or you don't really believe you can do things better. In this way, by working your self-confidence, naturally you will start to trust others.
• Decrease your expectations, increase your appreciation. Even before getting into any situation, we start to expect something from it and people involved. If you really want to trust others, talk to yourself about it. Instead of expecting, appreciate: see what others can do right, enjoy the learning process and love whatever environment you are, because there is always something wonderful there.
• Build a bridge based on common deep things. Whatever you have in common with others will help you to build that bridge, but go deep into that. Learn to know the people, not only the co-workers... Check this article on that...
• Differentiate likes and dislikes, from values, mission, vision and professional behavior. Most of the time, our lack of trust is based on what others like and we don't like. Not only in terms of work environment, even within a family or circle of friends, go beyond that. It is not uncommon that people with the same goals have different tastes; when we talk about trust, goals are much more important than tastes.
• Values. Sometimes, the lack of trust is due to a shock of values. And sometimes it is not something big; it is like someone likes football (soccer) and another person likes rugby. Other times, it is more serious and it can compromise your personal ethic. Assess your values and others' values, and then check if it is possible to conciliate them. If not, get off there right now!! Learning how to trust others also include learning when you cannot trust others.

In this way, you will improve your relationship with others and also your productivity, life in community and personal welfare.