4 tips to building trust

Despite what most people think, being a successful business owner has very little to do with selling, and a whole lot to do with building relationships and establishing trust. Here are a couple of tips on how to develop and build relationships: 

Connectivity is your focus - Focus your attention on the person you want to connect with. Position yourself to meet the needs of the other person. Understand all you can about what they are looking for and be authentic. 

Listen - The only way to know what someone needs is to listen to them. If you listen more than you talk, you will build trust and engagement. By listening you may even discover more opportunities than you had expected. 

Respond to what you hear - Demonstrating that you are listening and addressing their concerns, sends a genuine message that you are listening to them and not trying to push your agenda. 

Lay the foundation for the future - As a business owner you have to sell to survive, but by focusing on creating genuine relationships, the sale may come though a referral or when the time is right for that person you have connected originally. You want to lay the foundation so that when the time is right, you are the one they trust with their needs.