Effective Communication: 10 Ways to Build Trust
Building trust before and during your communication is the difference between being heard and overlooked. Here’s how.
In our previous posts, we discussed the importance of research and knowing your audience in effective communication. However, even with research and audience understanding, effective communication can still fall short if it doesn’t build trust with the audience. Building trust is critical for successful communication because it establishes credibility, creates a positive relationship, and promotes cooperation. Here, we’ll explore ways to build trust with your audience and make your communication more effective.
How to Build Trust Beforehand
- Do your Research. Know your stuff inside and out. We’ve talked about this before.
- Know your Audience so you can meet them where they are. We’ve talked about this before.
- Keep your Promises. If you promise to deliver something, make sure you follow through. If you can’t keep your promise, be honest about why and what you will do to make it right. You demonstrate that you are reliable and trustworthy when you keep your promises.
- Admit Mistakes. Nobody is perfect, and mistakes are a natural part of life. When you admit your mistakes, you demonstrate that you are accountable and honest, which builds trust with your audience. Take steps to correct your mistake and show your ability to learn from mistakes and failures. Build credibility with your audience and advocates.
How to Build Trust During
- Communicate Clearly. When you communicate clearly, you demonstrate that you are knowledgeable and competent. Use language that is easy to understand. Be concise and to the point, and make sure your message is relevant to your audience’s needs and interests. The research that you’ve done on your topics and audience will pay dividends here. Use what you know to communicate clearly.
- Be Respectful. When you show respect for your audience, you demonstrate that you value them and their opinions. Be polite, courteous, and listen, even if you disagree with your audience. Avoid using offensive language, and be mindful of any time constraints (either in a meeting setting or in pre-recorded video or print). Respect their time.
- Provide Value. People are more likely to trust someone who provides value and helps them achieve their goals. When communicating with your audience, provide information, insights, and resources that are relevant and valuable to them. Help them solve problems, achieve their goals, or make informed decisions. By providing value, you demonstrate that you are invested in your audience’s success and are committed to building a trusting relationship.
- Be Consistent. When you are consistent in your actions and communication, you demonstrate that you are reliable and trustworthy, which builds trust with your audience. Be consistent in your messaging, your behavior, and your delivery. Make sure your actions align with your words, and that you follow through on your commitments. When you are consistent, you create a sense of stability and dependability, which builds trust.
- Show empathy. When you demonstrate that you understand your audience’s feelings and concerns, you create a positive relationship and build trust. To show empathy, listen actively to your audience and respond with genuine concern and compassion. Use phrases like “I understand how you feel” or “I’m sorry you’re going through this” to show that you are empathetic and caring.
- Be Transparent. People appreciate honesty and openness, and they are more likely to trust someone who is transparent. When communicating with your audience, be transparent about your intentions, goals, and methods. Share information openly, and be honest about your limitations and challenges. Inauthenticity is one of the easiest ways to lose trust with your audience — it is easy to detect and act upon. Be transparent with mistakes, be authentic in your intentions and delivery, and be clear on your next steps.
“Trust is the easiest thing in the world to lose, and the hardest thing the world to get back.” ~R.M. Williams
Gaining the trust of your audience takes a lot of effort, holding on to that trust takes consistency and commitment. But building trust with your audience is one of the most important things you can do to effectively communicate with them. Audiences will be willing to overlook mistakes and overcome obstacles with you IF they trust you. Follow these rules and see your communication effectiveness compound.
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