We all work with others to make something happen. Many times, you know the people and sometimes you do not. Most of the time you can expect cooperation, but you may not always get it. What can an influencer do to make the interaction successful? Focus on building trust at the outset! Trust is the lubricant that takes friction out of relationships, personal and professional. Good leaders know that one key to building trust quickly is allowing everyone to be vulnerable yet feel safe. This requires people to feel comfortable talking about how they feel about the subject. Not everyone needs to disclose, however when the interaction’s instigator starts the effort at building trust, they create the space for others to feel safely vulnerable. Trust always fosters more trust.
