Trust Takes Vulnerability

Trust develops in many ways. It can grow slowly over time, evolving out of consistency and met expectations. Inversely, trust can form in an instant, growing from a single response or act that creates a feeling of safety.

But most importantly, trust takes vulnerability. Having the ability to admit wrong, inability, and even self-doubt is what helps others to witness our show of exposure as a sign of strength rather than weakness. Within that, there is trust. Trust that others will respect our defenselessness, and in turn come to embrace our expression of authenticity and courage. This level of extreme openness can bring people closer together and is what helps us achieve more together as one.

This approach of breaking down barriers, checking unconscious biases and questioning preconceived expectations takes work. It takes awareness. It takes diligence. But mostly it takes courage to accept the risks of vulnerability. In this video from Cirque Du Soleil, two performers must learn to act with courage by placing themselves in a constant state of vulnerability. In this way, trust is an ongoing and evolving process. It takes revisitation and needs to be revived often.

While the outcome of trust is often feelings of comfort and safety, it’s sometimes within those feelings where our collective progress and the evolution of trust can stagnate. Today, think about your relationships. Where could a show of vulnerability enliven feelings of trust that move you both forward together? What conversations need to be had and what risks need to be taken?

Take the opportunity to dive deeper into who you are with Prism. Use your Portrait to assess how others might perceive you and how you might use that to communicate more meaningfully. The following content has been recommended to you for doing just that.

“We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk.”

– Thomas Moore

Author

by Adam Schneider

Adam Schneider is SurePeople's Head of Content, leading the end-to-end enterprise-level content strategy, production, and management for a global platform ecosystem. At the core of his practice, he's a scientist with a passion for storytelling. At the core of his Prism, he's a double Catalyst with a passion for people.