Doing business is not your business alone. It is the business of all the people involved – from employees to the key stakeholders. When it comes to dealing with key stakeholders, trust is everything. It is the foundation of significant and innovative projects that will take your business to new heights
Trust, however, does not happen overnight. This is especially true when you have new board members who will work with you. Past conflicts and similar events may also affect the trust among stakeholders in the present – and you need to win them back! Acknowledge the fact that building trust is hard work, and you need to be committed to doing it. If you want to make some things much easier and more efficient, check out the following items:
Let them know you
One of the most obvious things that you should do is to show them who you are. This is in terms of work style, values, and philosophy in business. When they know your business persona, they may be able to make necessary adjustments that will facilitate a harmonious working relationship. Likewise, it is important that you get to know your stakeholders, their quirks, and work philosophy. It is also your job to adjust. This is a two-way street as you know it.
Prioritize being organized
When everything is number one, it is hard to prioritize, right? The best thing that you can do is to prioritize being organized. This will make sure that projects will efficiently run despite the challenges along the way. Start with creating feasible timelines. Use project management tools. Get everyone on-board. When stakeholders see that you are an organized businessperson, they will put their trust on you more. When multiple events are happening all at once, it would be nice to work in stages. This means breaking down a project in manageable pieces, so that executing and implementing plans will not be difficult.
Hire credible team members
To get the stakeholders on your side, you have to show them that you have capable leaders and team members. These should be the people who know what they are saying and dealing with. They should have the experience and expertise; for one, if you want to build credibility in your financial reports, you can find a temporary CFO firm that can offer fractional CFO services. They will explain the standing of the company and where it is headed.
Take the initiative
In business, you should always have the can-do attitude. Do not stay on the sidelines, as this will keep you from building your credibility. Be visible, be active, and show them what you can do. Always take the lead, and do not always wait for orders.
Successful businesses are built when stakeholders and key decision-makers trust each other. Trust is all about depending on each other’s abilities and goals. This is also a matter of believing in yourself; as a businessperson, your personal confidence will allow you to make rational decisions efficiently. While building trust is not always easy, there are many valuable things that you will learn along the way, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships, organizational communication, and human nature.
