Communication is the building block to establishing relationships whether in personal or professional lives. However, communicating just to send a message is not enough to bridge the gap between sender and receiver. It requires patience, active listening, adapting to the individual’s needs, and maintaining consistency are important to foster a healthy relationship.

A consistent effort through small and meaningful interactions helps earn trust, which one can experience in daily life. Recently, I realised the significance of patience and active listening in building a healthy relationship. As we say, small things matter, and that taught me lifelong learning. It is about fostering a relationship of trust with one of my nieces.

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Born a year before Covid, she spent most of her early life within the walls of her home.  The pandemic snatched her opportunities to spend time with family and friends. She missed collaboration opportunities, in-person meetings, and the foundational interactions that help us build relationships. She was left with no other option, but to depend more on the phone screen, without true connection or relationship-building opportunities.

I first met her when she was just 9 months old. No tantrums and happy to be with me. When I kissed her foot, she did not miss the opportunity and immediately put forward her other foot for another kiss—a small gesture that revealed her playful and trusting nature. However, she was completely different when I met her for the second time after the pandemic, now over 3 years old. She refused to come near me, crying at the sight of a stranger in her house.

It took three visits to her home before she finally began to warm up to me. Regular video calls and holiday trips slowly bridged the gap, fostering trust and creating a bond. This experience helped me understand that building trust and relationships—whether personal or professional—requires effort, patience, and consistent communication.

This turned out to be a powerful metaphor for me. Just as I had to patiently nurture trust with her, the same principles apply when building relationships in professional settings. Let’s explore how consistent communication fosters trust and strengthens teams.

Consistency is the key

Work-from-home or hybrid work culture is the reality of today’s workplace. However, the new work culture hardly allows us to interact with our colleagues and foster workplace relationships. The absence of communication leads to misunderstanding and impacts team collaboration, ultimately impacting the output. However, consistent, genuine communication can break the ice, foster trust, strengthen bonds, and create a strong foundation for collaboration and mutual respect.

Lessons for the Workplace

Communication bridges the gap between individuals, teams, and leaders. However, certain elements need to be taken care of while communicating with the team.

Be patient: Trust building is not a day-long affair. Just as I had to meet her multiple times before she trusted me, colleagues and teams need time to feel comfortable and confident.

Show up consistently: Regular check-ins, updates, and conversations demonstrate commitment and reliability.

Adapt to the individual: Regular video calls and in-person visits to connect, tailoring communication methods to suit individuals’ preferences can make a big difference.

Value small gestures: Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness or understanding can have the greatest impact.

Building trust through communication isn’t a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing process. When you communicate effectively, you foster trust, and in turn, trust makes communication easier and more impactful.

By being transparent, empathetic, and consistent in your interactions, you can create stronger relationships, whether with colleagues, clients, or loved ones.