Sunday, February 20, 2011

Trust and Credibility Are Key to Your Success

In a world of people purchasing on line or doing business face to face potential customers make decisions on trust that what they are buying is credible. The buyers decisions for the purchase are varied but at some point the decision to buy was based on buyers confidence the seller will deliver on the promise. But it is not only in business that trust plays a huge part in our decision making process. Relationships are for the most part based on trust as well. Trust and Credibility speak to our character and the type of person we are. Trust and Credibility can also be lost if you do not deliver on what you said or if the product you sold is inferior.
One of my favorite lines is "if you always tell the truth you don't have to remember what you said" Wow. How true is that? So why are Trust and Credibility so important to our lives. In my opinion people do not become friends instantly. There is a period that you get to know each other. You share your opinions, your desires and what makes you happy. If you are consistent and true to your values and you share some of those values the relationship grows. Trust is crucial to a strong marriage so would it not be crucial to a good friendship or business transaction.
In the business world the toughest part of growing the business is attracting new customers. They came to your business at some point because of trust. That trust could have been transferred from another customers referral. The key to remember is that you still have to earn that transferred trust. Trust and credibility can just as easily be lost if you do not deliver on what you say or do. Good luck in getting it back if you have lost it. The most important part of your business is customers. Without them you do not exist. Without trust you will not survive in business. Your marriage or friendships will not survive without trust either.
Are you credible? Are you who you say you are? I suggest you do not get too caught up in the "Fluff" because at some point you will be asked or taken to task on the fluff. You better be able to back up what you say and who you say you are. The commonly used term "Brand" is not just a recognition to what you are but it should speak to who you are.
Trust and credibility should be the cornerstone of your personality and your business. Your company's Mission Statement or your own Personal Purpose Statement should reflect an element of trust and credibility. People want to deal with people and companies they trust. The greatest products in the world will die on the shelf if they are sold under false pretenses or misleading information. As in baseball customers do not like curve balls and change ups. It would be my suggestion you take a look at how you present yourself and how it ties to who you are. Keeping and existing customer happy is much easier and more cost effective than trying to get a new one. Attract the new customers on the values you use to keep your existing customers happy. Remember that Trust and Credibility are earned and can be transferred to others who will help you grow both personally and in the business world.

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