Abraham Lincoln Answered with His Life!
Abraham Lincoln answered the question of how to build trust during tough times with his life. He pulled the United States together during troublesome times. Honest Abe had his hands full with:
- a civil war
- economic and personal challenges
- political opposition from both parties
- keeping the Union together while separating slaves from their owners.
He was under immense pressure. Enough to break anyone. Yet, Lincoln still managed to walk through this massive storm—winning trust.
”He is as honest as he is shrewd” said Stephen Douglas of Abraham Lincoln
When your political opponent acknowledges your honesty, trust isn’t far behind. Lincoln went so far as to appoint some of his political opponents to his presidential team. But how did Lincoln build the confidence that he had with these men? How can we gain faith during tough times?
How Fast Does Trust Form?
Some would say trust takes time. When Abe Lincoln was young, he worked as a clerk in the village store. One night after closing, he realized that he had taken 6 cents too much from a customer. He walked 3 miles to return the money. I’m guessing that customer’s trust in Lincoln multiplied the moment those coins dropped back into their hand. But, trust can plummet just as fast.
Faster than Lightening
Trust is built and lost faster than a 200,000,000 mph bolt of lightning. Therefore, refuse the impulse to indicate your interests before trust has developed. Customers normally don’t care about your interests until a connection has been sparked and solidified. As Brian Clark put it,
They care about what you’re going to inspire in them to achieve their own goals.
Brian Clark Founder Copyblogger, Further, Longevity Gains, The Leading Expert
Trust fails fast. Therefore, you can’t rush sharing your self interest. But, confidence can also be won quickly.
Trust Building Happens Incrementally, Track by Track
We remember that peoples’ confidence in Lincoln’s grew during times of severe economic challenge due to the civil war and resulting inflation. Lincoln courageously signed the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 trusting two different companies to unite Omaha and Sacramento via rail as the civil war was raging. But Lincoln waited 5 years to see east and west shake hands at the laying of the last nail.
The point? Authors of The Trusted Advisor point out that “Trust develops, it doesn’t just appear.” Just as Lincoln saw incremental success join hands, so it is with trust. It develops when it builds incrementally.
Reciprocal Trust Building
During the civil war President Lincoln appointed Ulysses Grant to command the Union army. Grant’s military record wasn’t all that great and he drank a lot. When he suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 many called for his removal. Lincoln said, “I can’t spare this man; he fights.” Lincoln chose to trust Grant. Therefore, Grant returned several crucial victories to Lincoln. If trust builds through give and take relationships, how can we know when it’s battle ready?
It Takes 2 to Trust
Trust must fight for life through mutual relationship. Confidence must run both ways through relationship. It’s not enough to trust someone, you also have to show yourself trustworthy.
