The Trust-O-Meter Assessment

In our increasingly competitive world, very rarely does and individual professional service provider, coach, or consultant truly have a significant advantage over others.  The ability to create trust is often the single biggest factor that differentiates these close competitors to secure a client assignment. 

   

The Trust-O-Meter assessment below that has been adapted from the book The Trusted Advisor will provide some insight into your ability to create trusting relationships and provide areas of development to gain mastery into this important business and personal skill.  

Download the Trust-O-Meter Assessment

Rate yourself on a scale of 1=low to 4=high as you evaluate the following statements.

• I am consistent and highly dependable.
• Serving my clients is my highest priority and I place a lower focus on my self-interest.
• I am genuine and my clients feel comfortable around me.
• I am more focused on being interested versus interesting.
• I seek to understand and then be understood .(S. Covey)
• I am an active reflective listener.
• I am honorable and keep conversations confidential. I avoid gossiping.
• I have a good sense of humor and am fun to work with.
• My clients often share personal information with me.
• My clients feel safe in discussing difficult issues.
• I genuinely care about my clients and it shows.
• I see my clients as people, not just a person fulfilling a role.
• I seek out opportunities for client contact to provide value added service.
• I often gain repeat business and referrals from my current and past clients.
• I am willing to generously share my skills and knowledge and take the time earn the trust of others.
• I am clear about my values and express them openly as a basis for creating trusting relationships.
• I do what I say I will do. My actions match my words.
• I exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence and have been told I have strong interpersonal skills.
• I am naturally curious and ask appropriate questions to learn how I can best help my clients.
• I am a win-win person and strive to build consensus with others.
• I consider myself thoughtful, considerate, sensitive to people’s feelings, and supportive.
• I frequently show my sincere appreciation for others.
• I believe that focusing on giving others what they want is the source of my own success.
• I stay the course even when the going gets tough.
• I am fully focused on my client’s agenda without distraction.

 The maximum score you can achieve is 100.  Consider comparing your answers with a TRUSTED colleague or friend.  I hope you enjoy the conversation and will share your insights and thoughts by contacting me at barry@dempcoaching.com.

Maintaining Relationships For Better Business Results

I work with that person.  I know that person.  But do I really? 

Reaching out to communicate and build relationships with a co-worker or contact should be embraced.  Here is why. 

In the time it takes for you to walk to the break room and pour yourself a cup of coffee, you can build and maintain some of the most fulfilling relationships that you may ever have.

Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Barry I hear what you are saying, but I don’t know what it all means”. 

Well, imagine for a moment if your vision for the future were something like this:

My life is a happy, healthy, abundantly rich world of extraordinary relationships, great accomplishments and integrity.  A world of faith and personal excellence where each person develops and goes the extra mile to contribute to their unique gifts and talent towards the fulfillment of a life of passion and purpose.

The reality is that having a world of truly fulfilling relationships, both business and personal, is very possible and very real.  If you are willing to work at it each and every day. 

10 Important Ways To Build Your Business Relationships

1. Go out of your way to let the people you are talking with express themselves fully.  When people feel that they can express themselves they experience a high degree of relatedness. 
2. Be “fully present” in each conversation and nowhere else.  Make eye contact and listen completely to what the other person is saying. 
3. Learn to say that you are sorry…and mean it. 
4. Be generous and loving.  It’s amazing what comes back to you. 
5. Never rush a relationship.  All good things come in time. 
6. Empathy and compassion are two muscles worth building. 
7. Be willing to forgive others and move forward.  Being unforgiving is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. 
8. Demonstrate kindness, caring, loyalty, and respect in all relationships.  Doing so is like putting money in your relationship bank account. 
9. Be trusting and trustworthy. 
10. Be genuine and authentic.  Andre Gide once said “It is better to fail at your own life than to succeed at someone else’s”.

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled business and personal coach focused on the areas of leadership, management, coaching, team-building, networking, business development, communication skills, relationship building, motivation, time management, life balance, and goal achievement. He specializes in working with business owners, executives, coaches, consultants, and high-potential professionals by helping them significantly increase their productivity, profitability, and life balance.  For more information or assistance, please contact Barry Demp at 248-740-3231 or visit www.dempcoaching.com.