Journal No. 3

Building trust the easy way

People often say trust takes years to build. Looking back, I think there’s more to it, it’s built through the little things that most people never notice.

As I settled in, I rarely waited to be asked what needed doing. If I noticed something that would make life easier, I’d simply get on with it.

If I was going into town, I’d think ahead. Was there a parcel to collect? Did anything need posting? Were there bits and pieces needed? To me, it wasn’t about doing more work. It was simply about making the best use of the journey.

This is in my DNA. It applies to everything I do. Whether it’s cleaning, organising paperwork or around the house, I simply did it the way I would hope someone would do it for me. Not perfectly but just properly.

Communication mattered just as much. If I knew I was going to be late, I’d let Steve even if it needed me to leave a little later. It’s not about clock watching, its about making sure the job was done.

Without Steve or I talking about it, something quietly began to change. Our conversations became more relaxed, and every now and then, Steve would simply smile and say “I’ll leave that with you”. Those five words meant more to me than he probably ever realised.

Because they weren’t really about the job. They were about trust.