Depositing Into The Trust Account
I learned years ago from my mentor, Steve Covey, about the emotional bank account.
We all know what a financial bank account is. We make deposits into it and build up a reserve from which we can make withdrawals when we need to. An Emotional Bank Account is a metaphor describing the amount of trust built up in a relationship. If we invest in a relationship, we are bound from time to time, either knowingly or unknowingly, to make withdrawals.
The key is to be sure that you always have something in the account to withdraw from. Always be sure your deposits are more than your withdrawals.
Here’s some example of deposits:
- Courtesy and Kindness
- Honoring your agreements
- Showing appreciation and recognition (in ways that are meaningful to the recipient)
- Apologizing
- Humility, being open to learn from others
- Truly listening, with empathy, for their concerns, their desires, and what matters to them
- Taking responsibility for your actions
- Taking people for coffee
Here’s some examples of making withdrawals:
- Discourtesy and disrespect
- Ignoring the people in your life and the mistakes you make in your relationships
- A lack of openness to listen or to get feedback
- Arrogance, being closed to learning
- Being blind to the impact your actions are having on others or the mistakes you make
- Abuse of power
- Blaming, complaining, and gossiping
- Taking people for granted
I’d love to hear about how you make deposits or withdrawals into the trust account in the relationships in your life.
