Trust in the Workplace

We are pleased to have the Chic Entrepreneur herself, Elizabeth Gordon, as our Guest Blogger talking about Trust in the Workplace.

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As a successful, professional woman you have an optimistic attitude and probably like think that everyone is a good, honest, capable and hardworking person – However you are also smart enough to know that is not always the case. A savvy business lady is never so naive as to forgo her due diligence.
Choosing who you do business with is just as important as what kind of business you do. Avoid getting burned by those not worthy of your time or talents – not to mention your business – with these Chic Tips:

• Make sure you meet all the parties involved. If you are hiring a company – ask to meet the person who will be doing the actual work. For a strategic alliance with another firm, you want to meet all the key players on their end.
• Ask for references – it may seem a bit old hat in the socially networked world of today, but not everyone has a public persona online, if you’d like more information about someone you are thinking of doing business with, ask to speak to some of their other business associates. Have specific questions in mind to ask when you call such as did they meet deadlines, di they have strong work ethic, be specific about what you want to know.
• Know your own ethical boundaries and be firmly rooted in them in all your business dealings.
• Make ethics part of the conversation – don’t assume everyone agrees on what is right and what is wrong.
• Notice your first impression. If you don’t feel comfortable with someone, you are never really going to be able to trust them 100%.
• The eyes don’t lie. Are they comfortable with eye contact or do they get shifty. Body language reveals many clues if someone is trying to deceive you.
• Ask your intuition. Your intuition acts as a natural guidance system. The more comfortable you are in your own body, the better able you will be to hear the wisdom it is trying to share with you.
• Recognize when you’ve trusted the wrong person and get out. Things changes and sometimes so do people. Be aware enough of what’s going out to remove yourself from a bad situation as soon as you recognize it as such.

Trusted relationships are the fabric of society and the fabric of your successful business. You’re too smart to get burned by those whose integrity is not inline with yours. Learn to make good decisions about who you choose to trust, and see more people start to extend their trust to you.

Chic Entrepreneur Elizabeth Gordon is an advisor to entrepreneurs and business leaders. A pioneer in the feminine approach to business, she is the founder of Flourishing Business, an advisory firm for entrepreneurs and the author of 23-week Amazon bestseller, The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels. She is the co-creator of Your 48 Hour Day: The World’s Simplest Time Solution and on the Board of Directors of Pink Payments, merchant services solutions for women. Elizabeth is a 2008 recipient of The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 Up & Comer Award for Atlanta’s best and brightest professionals for her business achievements, civic involvement and impact.