The rub of reliability (and why I’ll bet good money you’re not as reliable as you think)

by Andrea Howe | Aug 21, 2022 | Monthly-ish tips

This post is part of our Monthly-ish Tips series.

Of the 200,000+ people who have taken Trusted Advisor Associates’ online Trust Quotient™ self-assessment (TQ for short) they rate their own reliability higher than any of the other three variables of the trust equation (and nearly 21% higher than intimacy). Unfortunately, few of us are as good as we think for reasons I will reveal in short order.

Reprise: Work got you worn out? Try this Jedi mind trick.

by Andrea Howe | Jul 25, 2022 | Monthly-ish tips

This post is part of our Monthly-ish Tips series.

I wrote the first version of this Tip back in 2018. So much has changed. And yet some things haven’t. I was tired back then and shared a way I had found to re-energize myself at work that I thought would be helpful. Fast forward a few years, through (and still in) a pandemic along with many other challenging things in the world. I bet I’m not the only one who’s feeling at least a little worn at the edges. Hence the reprise.

Reprise: Why it matters what you do when you stumble over someone’s name (in the small scheme and the grand scheme)

by Andrea Howe | Jun 20, 2022 | Monthly-ish tips

This post is part of our Monthly-ish Tips series.

I’ve said for years that referring to someone by name is a quick and simple trust-builder. That’s because being intentional about acknowledging others in this very personal way accelerates intimacy. It would stand to reason then that forgetting their name, or fumbling around about how to pronounce it, would sound the death knell for trust, no? Actually, no. The implications are significant, but only in terms of how you choose to handle it.

Reprise: What NOT to say to a grieving client

by Andrea Howe | May 8, 2022 | Monthly-ish tips

This post is part of our Monthly-ish Tips series.

I know quite a few clients who are dealing with loss right now, so I’m reprising a Tip I wrote in 2015 that was inspired by then-Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg at the end of her first 30 days of mourning for her late husband. On the last day of sheloshim, which marks the completion of religious mourning for a spouse, she shared a compelling and beautifully written post on … well, Facebook, of course.

Among other things, Sheryl’s essay includes extraordinary lessons for anyone struggling to find the best or right way to acknowledge another person’s grief.

Seven ways to lead with trust when the you-know-what hits the fan

by Andrea Howe | Apr 25, 2022 | Monthly-ish tips

This post is part of our Monthly-ish Tips series.

At the top of a recent Mastery workshop, it became clear that I needed to drop my training plan and help the group address some tough issues. The you-know-what had hit the fan in their organization since the last time we convened as difficult business circumstances unexpectedly unfolded. My group of senior leaders was dealing with their own reactions while also sorting out how best to show up as trustworthy leaders to their teams and their clients. So, we paused to make a starter list of how to build and keep trust in tough times. Today’s tip features an amended version of that list, including some additions that struck me after we adjourned.

Why being good at friendship matters for professionals

by Andrea Howe | Mar 21, 2022 | Monthly-ish tips

This post is part of our Monthly-ish Tips series.

A salient comment from a VP-level participant in one of our recent programs got me thinking about a tip I wrote nearly seven years ago, so I’m reprising it now. The comment basically drew a clear connection between establishing trust with a business colleague and building trust with a friend. It stuck a chord with me because I’ve come to believe that friendship skills play a critical role in business, and particularly in sales.