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4 Things Influencers Should Know About Trust

3. They’ve grown up in a skeptical culture. In the old days, the media gave celebrities and leaders a pass. Rarely was President Roosevelt’s polio mentioned (or even shown), and the adulterous affairs of leaders like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were virtually ignored. But since Richard Nixon and Watergate, everything changed. Today, reporters scour personal records, emails or dig back decades to expose mistakes and wrongdoing. Shows like TMZ were created to reveal “celebrity secrets.” Watching TV, the Internet or using social media today makes it virtually impossible to believe that anyone can be trusted.

4. The media can be particularly vicious when it comes to religion. Over the last few decades in most prime-time programs, the “Christian” character will usually be the crazy person, the pedophile or the hypocrite. Religious belief is regularly ridiculed in science programs or made fun of on talk shows. With little to counter those images, it’s easy to understand the lack of trust when it comes to faith.

Never in history has the concept of “trust” been so undermined on a daily basis.  That’s why leaders and influencers today need to be very intentional when it comes to building trust with your team, employees, congregation or followers. I could write a book on the subject, but here are a few places to start:

1. Just be real. Everyone sees through the hype so tone down the exaggeration on your resume, stop making everything about yourself and refocus on others. It’s been said often, but authenticity matters more than ever.

2. Stop hiding your mistakes. Be vulnerable and show your team that you’re not perfect. (Trust me—they already noticed.) Showing your imperfections can actually be a powerful way to connect with others.

3. Finally, create a culture where it’s safe to fail. Developing trust is about creating an atmosphere where people are comfortable being themselves. Never relax standards of excellence or integrity, but allow people the room to stretch, take risks and do it without punishment. The trust that comes out of that experience will take your entire team to a new level of performance—not to mention friendship.