Trust is the cornerstone of solid relationships—regardless of whether they are friendships, close personal connections, or business relationships with clients and customers. Since even the most initial interactions do count in cultivating business relationships, it is important to build trust from the very beginning.
I actually believe it is easier to build trust with business relationships than most people think. It starts with very basic things like returning phone calls, giving honest and factual information, and listening to what the other person is saying. Following through on promises or going that extra mile to find the information that a person is looking for or answer their questions is a very good start. The prospective customer, client, or vendor knows that you are someone who will do what you say or promise.
In those early stages, when your interactions are limited, I think it is easier to be “on” and thorough in terms of follow-through and attentiveness. Once we have worked with someone for a while, we might have a few misunderstandings or other issues under our belt, but if we have paid attention to being trustworthy and thorough in the most infant stages of our working relationship, we will have a strong bond of trust to carry us through those inevitable bumps.
In order to build trust from the beginning, make sure that you are sharing accurate information and telling the absolute truth about your business, your experience, and what you have to offer. Nothing ruins trust faster than promising more than you can possibly deliver. Of course, there will be things we cannot control and times we will have a hard time living up to expectations—but by keeping things honest and manageable, we will have a foundation of trust to guide us and our customers and clients.
Also: Rebuilding a Broken Trust
Is Lack of Trust Warranted, or is it Born of Fear?