When Someone Confides In You

When people confide in us and reveal secretive or private information to us, they trust us to maintain confidentiality. Do you recall the last time when your family member or friend shared a secret with you, and you revealed it to at least one other person? This habit puts our credibility and our relationships at risk.

1 ● 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 – of how trustworthy, credible and reliable you are. They have chosen you among hundreds of people they know, to share the private information. They trust you; they want only you to know, or they need your opinion.

2 ● 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞’𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲. A family member may reveal about his health issue or your boss may discuss a business deal. Assure them and promise yourself not to reveal it to anyone under any circumstance.

3 ● 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗽. If you give in, you not only damage the reputation of the one who confided in you, but you lose your credibility also.

4 ● 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥. Listen patiently, understand completely, and be non-judgmental. Keep your ethical standards every time with everyone.