I’ve been doing some thinking about this email, why I write it and what I want my subscribers to get out of it.
Two and a half years ago I sent the first one to about 30 friends and clients. My intention was to provide a useful insight each time and to let people know about the work I was doing.
Since then, the list has steadily grown and grown without me doing much to promote it. And I’ve had great feedback from people saying they find it helpful, or thought-provoking, or both. But to be honest I’ve not really thought much more deeply about it.
In the past year, I’ve focused my work on the relationships we have at work, and how they drive our success and wellbeing. It’s a crucial element for success - it affects our career progression, our productivity and our wellbeing.
Too often we overlook the skills that are needed to manage this stuff well, or lack the confidence to recognise that we can do it well.
So this email will focus on tips, insights and thoughts focused on building relationships at work – influence, persuasion, negotiation, making connections and tackling the tough bits.
And we’ll start with the foundation for all of the above - trust.
Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash
How to build trust
I’ve realised that these emails are a living embodiment of some of the stuff I help people understand. Hopefully they build my credibility with you; hopefully they’ll also help you see me as reliable. But the most important thing I’m trying to build is trust.
Trust is at the heart of influencing. You’ll never influence someone who doesn’t trust you.
How do you build trust? Well, there are the obvious ways: you’re honest when things go well, as well as when they don’t. You do what you say you will. You are authentic.
But most importantly of all, you connect with what the other person needs, not just your own agenda.
Trust only exists in a relationship. People will only trust you if you have their interests at heart. And they can tell if you don’t.
That’s why we don’t buy from the salesperson who doesn’t take the time to ask what we’re looking for. Or why we don’t help out the colleague who is only interested in furthering their own career.
By letting go of ‘self-orientation’ you can focus on building relationships that work for both of you.
And so, it’s important to me that these emails are genuinely useful and interesting for you.
I’ll send out something every other Monday, to get you thinking for the week ahead. I also let you know if I have free webinars coming up, new resources available, or about my training / group coaching offers. Hopefully you will trust me enough to look at these if you think they’ll be useful, but it’s no problem if they’re not - I’m still glad you’re here.
I love feedback – so please let me know what you think. And if there’s something you’d like to know more about, I’m happy to help. Leave a comment or email me at ruth@ruthkrichards.co.uk
Not for you? There’s a link to unsubscribe at the bottom of the email.
And if you’d like more….
I’ve also started another monthly newsletter, The Art of Collaboration. This will focus on how we work together and collaborate in a hybrid world. It’s a place for me to share things I’m experiencing, hearing and reading in a more exploratory way. If that sounds of interest, please sign up