What if people would say about you: “yes, this person, you can definitely count on her!”
It would be amazing, right?
So, let’s get right into how you can become that awesome person!
For others… And for yourself! 🙂
Everyone wants to be seen as a trustworthy person!
Imagine someone talking about you and saying “yes, this person, you can definitely count on her”.
Amazing right?
When people see you like this, you build real and strong relationships.
You also get the results that you want, because you put all the chances on your side!
It’s the foundation of a whole life: We need to be reliable towards others, and also towards ourselves! 🙂
What is a reliable person?
A reliable person is someone who keeps their word.
It’s someone that when they say that they will do something, they are doing it, no questions asked.
It’s someone that we can count on because they always did what they said they would and they never let you down. So it’s a past, present, and future confidence that we have in this person!
I like the saying “do what you say and say what you do”. It goes with this image of transparency! That you’re being clear about your intentions and the way you’re doing it.
3 ways to become more reliable
1. Learn to say no.
I know that this isn’t easy at all! And if you’re interested in doing less of that, you need to check this post and podcast episode 5 Steps To Saying No Effectively.
If you want to become more reliable, you need to say “yes” less and “no” more.
As I always say, when we say “no” to something, it’s because we say “yes” to something else.
So, to make sure that you won’t find yourself with too many things to do (we don’t have enough hours in the day, I know!), you NEED to learn how to say “no”.
And it’s really a habit to develop! 🙂
You’ll see, you’ll get better at it!
Also, what is magical about it is that when you start saying “no” more, your “yes” becomes more valuable. People trust you more.
They know that when you say “yes”, it’s because you really want to and so, you will more likely keep your word! 🙂
Related article:
5 Steps To Saying No Effectively
2. Always do your best (and show that you tried!)
Nobody and nothing is perfect.
So, do not try to reach perfection in everything you do.
But when it comes to being reliable, do your best, always.
Do your best to be on time.
If you need to help someone with anything, do it and be there 100%. Do not do it half, 50% and hoping for the best!
If you say “yes” to something, you need to be ALL IN. 🙂
Your attitude is very important! Again, it’s really okay not to do something perfectly, but to show that you truly care and that you really tried is the most important.
You can always improve on something.
But improving someone’s opinion on the question if you are or not reliable won’t be that easy! 🙂
3. Keep your word no matter what.
When you’re saying “yes” to something, commit to it.
Remind yourself why you said “yes” in the first place and do what you say that you will do!
Honestly, it’s that simple. It’s actually the easiest way to be reliable!
Be someone that people can count on!
Be reliable to YOURSELF!
Actually, it’s essential to be reliable to others, to keep your word!
But it’s even more important to be reliable to YOURSELF in the first place.
As I always say, the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.
The way you treat yourself will show how others should treat you too!
So, how can you be more reliable to yourself?
4 steps to do so!
- Ask yourself: What is it that you want more time for yourself?
- When you answered that question, schedule time FOR YOURSELF in your calendar. It can be just 10′ per day! 🙂
- Consider the obstacles that will come up when it will show in your calendar.
- Stick to it when it’s showing up in your calendar. Do it! Don’t cancel on yourself! Overcome those obstacles! 🙂
If you want some ideas, you can start with my list of 30-day self-care challenge ideas!
Why do we like reliability?
Reliability is something that we all like.
I really like how they said this in this article of the Inc.
Why is that?
Because we don’t really like surprises. I mean, sometimes, they are nice! 😉
But most of the time, we don’t like unpleasant and unplanned surprises.
You just want things to work out the way that they’re supposed to, right?
They are already enough things we need to fight for, enough drama in our life! 😉
So, reliability is bringing us the serenity and quiet that we need in our everyday life.
The real reason why we want more reliability in our life…
Now that you know that we all seek reliability in our everyday life, let me tell you WHY exactly, we need it.
It’s not really about that plane that you have to take!
Or not about that document that you were expecting on time!
But it’s about what we get when things are going the way they’re supposed to.
It’s for the destination you’re gonna get by taking this plane!
It’s about the work/presentation that you need to make.
Of course, it’s just nicer when everything goes smoothly, but down the line, it’s really because there is a need that we want to fulfill.
For example, when someone told you that they will help you brainstorming ideas for your new business.
It’s not really about that person doing what they said they would! It’s about your new business.
So, of course, we prefer when things go the way they were supposed to go, but even more important, we NEED them to go this way, because we want to succeed at what we’re trying to do (go to a place, share a moment with someone, have a great brainstorm meeting, for example.)
Who is a trustworthy person?
People like to use the word “reliable” or also they like the word “trustworthy”.
In my opinion, both of them can be used to describe someone that you can count on.
By the end of the day, you know that this person will do what she said she will do.
Like the adjective, it’s really someone that is worth your trust! 😉
How do you deal with an unreliable person?
At some point in our life, we all need to deal with an unreliable person.
What to do?
Here are a few tips that can help:
1. Focus on facts.
To avoid any misunderstands and misinterpretations, focus on what really happened.
For example: “I was supposed to receive this document yesterday, by 8 PM”.
2. Be action-oriented.
Sometimes, we can get very mad at someone because he/she didn’t do what they said they will, so we may focus a lot on the problem.
Try to focus on the future instead of the past.
For example: “Ok, for the next time, how can we make sure that…?”
3. Set really clear boundaries.
Before doing/planning something with someone, be very clear about what you want and what you are tolerating.
In your professional or your personal life, I know that it isn’t easy, but the clearer we are, the better chances we have to get what we really want!
For example: “It’s really important to me that the length of the document will be at least 2000 words”.
4. Ask yourself if this person is worth your time!
I know that this may sound a bit harsh, but honestly, life is pretty short, do not give your time to people that don’t find it valuable.
Time is your biggest asset and you have the responsibility to choose who you’re spending it with and doing what.
Of course, at work, it isn’t that easy. Sometimes, you really need to work with that person!
But I want you to think 2 minutes if this person is really something that you want to have in your life or not.
Keep in mind that you are choosing who you surround yourself with.
Choose wisely. This is your responsibility and no one else’s! 🙂
Being reliable is helping you build your self-confidence
There are 2 reasons why being reliable will help you build your self-confidence.
First, when you are a reliable person, you will see people counting on you.
You will see that they are reaching out for your help and that in their eyes, you are someone trustworthy.
This feedback is a great boost for your self-confidence because it’s showing you that people love you for who you are. Someone that can keep his words and that we can always count.
Feeling loved and trustworthy is without any doubt an amazing way to build your self-confidence.
Secondly, as I said before, you need to start being more reliable to yourself too by taking the time just for yourself.
When you’re doing this, you are showing to yourself that you are the most important person in your life and that you take good care of that person.
When you think about it.
We plan so many meetings with friends and families but we don’t necessarily do it with ourselves! Why is that?!
It’s definitely a habit that we need to take. Because when we take care of ourselves, we get to know ourselves better and we start feeling empowered being who we truly are!
To sum up!
As you can see, being reliable or trustworthy (you choose your favorite!) is really an essential way to behave in your everyday life and to build your self-confidence, on the way! 🙂
I would, even more, say, it’s the way to be.
We all like planes, salaries, people, etc. to be on time, so we can do what we REALLY want to do.
So, be reliable to yourself and to others.
Keep your word, do what you say you will do! It’s not that complicated you’ll see! 🙂
To an amazing RELIABLE and TRUSTWORTHY YOU! 🙂
