There’s an expression that says: If you want loyalty, get a dog! Many ‘people-people’ would gasp at this, and many ‘task-oriented people’ would nod their heads knowingly. The reality is that one person cannot build and run a business completely on their own.  Whether they expand inside the business, or outsource externally, at some point there is a need to develop trust so that certain aspects of the business run without the direct involvement of the business owner.
So who can you trust? Trust is an aspect of relationships which can take years to cultivate, but sometimes a business does not have that kind of time. The bottom line is this:
Trust those who are trustworthy.
Actions speak louder than any form of promise or commitment, so trust those who do not watch the clock; who do not only do their job description; who do not complain about work. Trust those who work proactively for the best interest of the company; trust those who are there when you need resources to help; trust those who display honestly and integrity in their dealings; and most importantly, trust those who your gut tells you to trust.
To trust another in your business is to take a risk, because with trust comes certain liberties and power. But without that trust the business can never grow.
“We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk.”
Thomas Moore