Just be Honest…

The good news is that there is a path forward that is applicable to all of us in our everyday lives to help us rebuild trust. The following are five essential keys to rebuilding broken trust:

1. Power of apology. We need to take ownership and apologize. My experience is that people are very forgiving when we do so, and unforgiving when we don’t. It takes a strong person to apologize; it takes a weak person not to. There is not a person on this planet who hasn’t broken trust, but people with high character are willing to take responsibility, sometimes even on behalf of others, so they can put themselves in the driver seat to lead others out of the situation. Remember the power of apology.

2. It’s not a one-time event, it’s a way of living. We need to constantly be talking to one another. You can’t just have one conversation with someone and expect to have trust; trust is built through multiple conversations. You can’t go to the gym once and expect to be healthy; you need to go multiple times. You also build trust through transparency and by talking with each other, not at each other.

3. Get the unsaid said. We need to have honest, open communication. The biggest problem when it comes to honesty is not what people do say to each other, but what they don’t say. The key is to get that unsaid, said.

4. Hit Reboot. Like a computer that occasionally needs to be restarted, there is power to hitting “reboot” in relationships and drawing a line in the sand as we move forward. We can then begin to discuss what we have in common as the building blocks to how we will build trust in the future.

5. Unchain your past and build the future. Most importantly, we need to create a plan that incorporates lessons learned and what will be different in the future so there is proof so that trust will not be broken again. Without this step, people tend not to move forward and you will be chained to the past.

With these five keys, you can take any situation in which trust is broke and build a relationship better than you even had before. Often, the most painful moments in life produce the greatest benefits if we decide to learn and grow from them. Having worked with many corporations, associations, and government agencies I have come to realize that no matter how dire certain situations may be, with the right leadership anything can be overcome. You are the leader of your own life; choose how to lead yourself and others and you can accomplish your desires.

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Stephanie Staples, CSP* is the author of When Enlightening Strikes – Creating a Mindset for Uncommon Success and an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker. She empowers audiences & clients across North America to bring their ‘A’ game to work and to life. Stephanie has a special interest in working with and empowering nurses and healthcare providers. She happily calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home. You can get loads of complimentary resources to help with issues such as work/life balance, wellness, stress management and happiness in general, as well as find out more information about her coaching and speaking services at http://www.YourLifeUnlimited.ca. * Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), conferred by the National Speakers Association is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform proficiency. Less than 10 percent of speakers have earned this credential and are recognized as some of the best in their fields. Stephanie was one of only five professional speakers in Canada (and the only woman) to attain this designation in 2013.

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Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited

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Just be Honest…

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