Self-Disclosure and Trust Chapter 2 Self-Disclosure and Trust “Trust no one. Not your closest advisors, your spouse, your brother, your God. Trust only yourself, or you will face pain every day of your life.” ~ King Ramses, The Ten Commandments Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Chapter Objectives Improve your relationships by sharing your thoughts and feelings. Learn to trust others, especially when trust has been broken. Determine the appropriate amount to disclose to others. Use situational cues to guide self-disclosure and trust. Share your feelings about and reactions to people and situations, in addition to facts. Demonstrate that you are worthy of other’s trust. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

What is Self-Disclosure? Self-disclosure includes these elements: Feelings more than facts Greater breadth and depth over time A focus on the present rather than the past Reciprocity Self-disclosure is the process of letting others know what you think, feel and want. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Benefits of Self-Disclosure Sharing with others about ourselves can bring a sense of psychological relief. Disclosing to an appropriate person can help us validate our perceptions of reality. Self-disclosure can help reduce stress and tension. Self-disclosure improves us physiologically. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Benefits of Self-Disclosure (cont) Self-disclosure can result in clearer lines of communication with others. Self-disclosure can lead to strengthened, enhanced relationships. Research shows that the more co-workers enjoy working together, the more productive they can be. Self-disclosure can create a trusting environment that is conducive to promoting long-term relationships. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Fears Associated with Self-Disclosure Uncertainty about how the information is going to be received and utilised. May be judged harshly by others. Things said in one context might be repeated in an unrelated context. Disclosed information may be revealed to someone else. Willingness to share may be perceived as a weakness or shortcoming. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Some Guidelines for Self-Disclosure Discuss situations as they happen. Choose the appropriate time and place. Choose the appropriate level of disclosure. Share feelings and thoughts rather than facts. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

The Role of Self-Disclosure in Increasing Self-Awareness It is important to be honest with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses. Personal and professional relationships can be greatly improved through understanding ourselves in depth and then selecting those aspects of self that are appropriate to share with others. The more we share ourselves with others, the more we can develop high-quality relationships. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

The Johari Window Figure 2.1 Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

What is Trust? Five elements of trust: Integrity Competence Trust is a multifaceted concept that captures one’s faith or belief in the integrity or reliability of another person or thing. Integrity Competence Consistency Loyalty Openness Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

(without integrity, all other elements may be meaningless) Five Elements of Trust Competence Consistency Loyalty Openness Integrity (without integrity, all other elements may be meaningless) Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Personal Trust Builders Follow through on promises and commitments made. Don’t reveal confidences told to you in private. Avoid participating in unnecessary gossip. Don’t make self-flattering or boasting statements about your capabilities. Develop a reputation for loyalty. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Personal Trust Builders (cont) Be consistent. Be realistic. Develop personal competence. Gain a reputation for honesty and truthfulness. Make your actions consistent with your spoken words. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Riskiness of Trust The person who places trust in an individual must rely on that person to treat the information that was given as confidential. The truster cannot monitor or control the other party. Individuals may overestimate the influence of internal factors on the behaviour of others. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

The Role of Trust in Organisations Trust is essential in the work environment. Trust impacts the effectiveness of internal and external communication. Trust influences the actions of organisational stakeholders. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Impact of Trust Individual impact Organisational impact Binds leaders and followers Establishes a framework for organisational values and ethics Organisational impact Current corporate scandals have led to distrust of corporate America Leaders must prove they are trustworthy Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Organisational Trust Builders Depth of relationships Understanding of roles and responsibilities Frequent, timely and forthright communication Member self-esteem and self-awareness High levels of skill competence Clarity of shared purpose, direction and vision Honouring promises and commitments Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Ten Managerial Tips for Developing Trust Practice what you preach. Open lines of communication. Accept disagreements, differences of opinion and conflict. Keep confidential information confidential. Let others know what you stand for and what you value. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Ten Managerial Tips for Developing Trust (cont) Create an open environment. Maintain a high level of integrity and honesty. Know yourself and how others perceive you and your actions. Build credibility with others by being consistent and reliable. Avoid micromanaging. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

A Note of Caution Trust is not a right; it is earned Trust is person-dependent Trust is situation-dependent Trust is earned over time Trust is fragile Trust should be valued and fostered in your personal and professional relationships Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak

Summary Self-disclosure and trust are two mutually reinforcing skills that can serve to deepen and improve personal and professional relationships. There are fears and risks associated with disclosure; however, knowing what, when and how to disclose can lessen the fears and risks. By letting others know you, you pave the way for them to develop trust in you. The mutually reinforcing nature of disclosure and trust forms the basis of healthy personal and professional relationships. Copyright  2006 McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd PPTs t/a Interpersonal Skills in Organisations Slides by Caroline Juszczak