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The power of trust is exponential. When we have full trust in our friends, family, and the institutions around us, we tend to feel more secure, supported, and calmer.
Now, science backs up how trust can go a long way. A study from the journal Psychological Bulletin sheds light on just how much trust can make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Study Shows the Power of Trust
According to the findings, people who trust one another and institutions report better wellbeing, with interpersonal trust showing the strongest link, particularly for children, teens, and older adults. Euronews points out that a higher level of wellbeing is tied to better health and longevity.
The team behind the study examined three types of trust: interpersonal trust between people who know each other, trust in institutions, and general trust. They found that trust of any kind was linked to higher levels of wellbeing. The study also shows how trust and wellbeing may mutually reinforce each other over time — with trust predicting wellbeing and wellbeing predicting future trust.
How to Build Trust
Trust is extremely significant when it comes to relationships. But how can it be built?
According to Forbes, trust can be built through reliability. When an individual or group follows through on their words with actions, they encourage trust. It’s also important to be transparent. When people openly share what’s on their minds and when leaders in organizations tell members what is going on, everyone knows where they stand, making it easier to trust.
Furthermore, sincerity and congruency go a long way. The more authentic a leader is, the more likely that people will believe what they say. While people may believe they can hide their true feelings — others may sense when sincerity or congruency is missing — which erodes trust. Another important factor in the ability to trust is competency. When a person, leader, or organization is capable of doing what they are supposed to do — trust can be fostered.
Fairness is also crucial. It’s important for people to act as if the needs and desires of others matter, and listen to and respect both sides. While trust can’t flourish in a relationship where it’s all about one person or in a workplace where all the energy is focused on the company or leader — it can blossom in an environment where everyone feels like their needs are important.
Apologizing and admitting to mistakes can also make a difference. It encourages others to share their thoughts. A timely apology or an admission of being wrong is a meaningful way to strengthen or rebuild trust, which can improve relationships.
Lastly, trust can be lost if we believe others’ actions were carried out intentionally. However, sharing our feelings with the person who hurt us can do wonders for restoring relationships. This is because through being brave and having tough conversations, we might start to see things differently and come to the realization that their intention was not what we thought.
So remember, through simple yet powerful steps — you have the power to build and restore trust — improving your relationships and your life.
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