Trust is the fundamental building block of developing strong relationships. And, in upstart and mature nonprofit organizations alike, trust must be the very essence and lifeblood of the group’s DNA. Nonprofits are all about doing something meaningful and good. They are mostly kept alive by the goodness of people who volunteer their time and resources.
One quote that continues to inspire me, and those I work with, to mindfully develop and maintain an environment of trust is from the brilliant, late Maya Angelou. She said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When you make people feel confident, trusted and that they are an integral part of something bigger than themselves, they will never forget it.
Building trust comes naturally to some people. However, it is also a value that can continuously be developed and refined.
One way to build trust is to be a good listener. Especially as the founder and leader of your nonprofit, you must not do all of the talking. The best leaders let others speak. They make time and room for everyone to express their ideas. This raises the skill level of your people and raises their confidence. It makes them feel good and valued.
Many aspects contribute to the development of trust. However, today I’m simply offering two of what I consider to be the most essential. First and foremost is developing the ability to focus on problems rather than personalities. And secondly, refusing to jump to conclusions in problem solving or seemingly crisis situations while remaining focused on the big picture.
Nurture your nonprofit with trust and it will nurture you in kind. If your non-profit could use some guidance and insight in developing trust and other desirable qualities, give my office a call.
Makarand Utpat is a passionate learner of digital business and is a best-selling author. He speaks, blogs, and vlogs on topics such as digital marketing, leadership, team-building and motivation. You can subscribe to his blogs atwww.makarandutpat.com, connect with him on Twitter and Instagram at @MakarandUtpat or like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
