Posted on 2015-11-11 00:00:00 +0000

Trust is at the core of every relationship - our friendships, romances and business partners. Trust is not only measurable and an emotion, it’s also a verb. We choose to trust people and situations every day. In business, it’s vital that we have the trust of our customers, vendors, and co-workers. Trusts engenders loyalty and fosters creativity, which improves both the bottom-line and our relationships
The challenge for businesses is finding ways to build trust.

At GCC Portfolio, we’re in the business of helping others express their gratitude and appreciation. Whether through business greeting cards, holiday e cards or handwritten notes on beautiful note cards and stationery, we know that saying “thank you” and acknowledging others makes a difference.

However, we’ve also worked diligently to establish trust in all our relationships. Here’s what that looks like for us:

1. We follow through. When we say we’ll do something, we do it. That includes over-delivering on customer expectations and the commitment to go above and beyond whenever we can. At the end of the day, the trust our customers have in us is our most valued currency.

2. We communicate. We enjoy being in contact with our customers; speaking to them on the phone and sending emails. However, we understand that true communication is an ongoing process and requires refining. We are always looking at better ways of staying in touch and ensuring we’re clear with what we’re saying. When your word becomes your bond, it is a powerfully transforming reality.

3. We listen. Active listening is a key component to building trust. The ability to accurately reflect back to another what they have said makes them understand that they have been heard. Be it our clients, vendors, or coworkers, our goal is for all us to be on the same page.

These principles may seem easy enough but they remain a challenge for many people and businesses. That’s why corporate cultures of distrust have real dollar costs associated with them. The late Stephen R. Covey documented this cost in a piece called “The High Cost of Low Trust.” In it, he unequivocally states: “You absolutely cannot do business without trust.” He warns that low trust leads to “criticizing, complaining, comparing, competing, contending, and cynicism.”

Trust is tough to gain and easy to lose. However, consistent action taking demonstrates to others that, in Covey’s words, you are “trustworthy in your heart and sincere about what your real intentions are.” This leads to a healthy transparency in your transactions, letting people they can be safe and trust you at your word. At GCC, our follow through, communication, and listening is done to ensure that everyone we’re in contact with knows they’re in excellent hands.