A friend of mine used to say, “Say what you mean and do what you say.” He was talking about building trust. He made it sound easy: Think about what you need to know about someone before you trust them. Does trusting someone take years? What does she or he need to do to make you feel like you are ready to trust them?

My friend was referring to a number of characteristics in that simple sentence. One is dependability. When you’re considering your own trustworthiness, ask yourself these questions: Can others count on you? Do you show up as promised and on time?

How ethical are you? Are you honest and transparent? Do others understand what you mean? Are you a good communicator?

Earning the trust of those around you has to do with walking the talk. Do you talk a good line, but cheat, lie, and steal? Are you willing to live up to the standards you set for others?

To earn another person’s trust, you need to be willing to do all of the above. If you have ever broken someone’s trust, you know it’s difficult to get it back. Think about the important relationships in your life and ask yourself, “Do I say what I mean and do what I say?”