People Who Are Naturally Trustworthy Usually Say 10 Brilliant Phrases In Conversation
Pamela J Peters | Canva Whether you’re a leader in a professional space trying to cultivate respect within your team or a person hoping to build a long-lasting intimate connection, finding ways to develop trust is the most important step to being a naturally trustworthy person.
When we commit to helping other people feel heard, we also help to build trust, laying a solid foundation for any relationship, personal or professional. Saying a few brilliant phrases can ensure you’re leading with compassion and confidence in even the most mundane conversations.
Naturally trustworthy people usually say these things casually:
1. ‘I’d love to hear more about your experience’
According to leadership expert Kristin Bledsoe, naturally trustworthy people can compromise and find common ground with others, which bolsters an important sense of belonging in every kind of relationship. When we focus on what’s similar, rather than different, between us, we break down barriers that might otherwise cause disconnection.
2. ‘I completely understand where you’re coming from’
By removing your own ego and self-interest from conversations, naturally trustworthy people learn to lead with empathy. Rather than waiting for your turn to speak or providing unsolicited advice, use phrases like this that support and make space for others to share.
3. ‘What can I do to help support you?’
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When naturally trustworthy people help others feel valued and supported, they promote a sense of security that allows people to feel closer to them, both physically and emotionally. By showing genuine concern for other people's struggles, they’ll learn to trust you as a pillar of respect in their lives.
4. ‘I appreciate this about you’
By leading with empathy and kindness in all of your conversations, you can subconsciously make yourself into a naturally trustworthy person. April Litchford, an Assistant Professor at Utah State University, noted that the more kindness and compassion you express in your life, the more you get back.
5. ‘You did a great job navigating that situation’
By giving intentional compliments and sincere praise, naturally trustworthy people help ensure the people they love feel appreciated and understood, even if it’s through a passing casual phrase like this one. When we feel seen by someone, we gain trust in them: it's that simple.
6. ‘Can I be honest with you?’
Honesty is the foundation of being a naturally trustworthy person, explains Jim Clemmer, the Canadian strategic partner of Zenger Folkman, an award-winning firm known for developing extraordinary leaders. By transparently offering honest, thoughtful feedback and being a consistent listening ear, you let people know they can count on you to tell it like it is.
7. ‘Let’s try looking at this from a different perspective’
Many egotistical people struggle with an inflated sense of self-worth that overtakes their conversations and sabotages their ability to build trust. By committing to creativity and collaboration rather than reactivity, naturally trustworthy people ensure they create space for everyone to feel important and valued, whether there’s a problem to be solved or not.
8. ‘I need some space to think about this’
While it might seem counterintuitive to assume trust is built through a casual phrase like “I need some space to think about this,” which at first glance gives pause, there's massive power in setting boundaries and communicating your needs to others.
By taking space to think about what you want, you can return to your interactions when you're ready from a more balanced perspective. When you hesitate to speak further until you feel more confident in what you want to say and how you want to say it, others will see you as a naturally trustworthy person.
9. ‘I’ll take full responsibility for that’
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Whether it’s regarding hurtful comments you made or another type of grievance, being secure enough to take accountability can help others trust you more. Saying “I’ll take full responsibility for that” makes you naturally trustworthy; it can ensure people feel secure around you, as opposed to anxious that you’ll blame or judge them for your own actions.
10. ‘I respect your privacy’
According to a 2023 study, consistency and reliability are two of the most important influences on trust. When we keep people's secrets and prioritize our commitments to them, they build a sense of trust in us because we do what we say we're going to do, and that's huge.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
