This is our last tip (for now) in a three-part series on the subject of intimacy—a word that businesspeople don’t usually associate with professionalism.

We’re continuing our conversation about intimacy, a deliberately provocative word to use in business.

At first blush, intimacy is a strange word to use in a business context. “What, I’m supposed to be intimate with my clients?”

Leading with trust and being masterful with the “soft skills” takes something, both organizationally and personally. It starts with getting honest (and accurate) about your limitations.

The Trust Equation is a deconstructive, analytical model of trustworthiness. It includes four variables: credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation.