coworkerGvahim/FlickrMaintaining eye contact is essential when trying to establish trust.

Whether it's in the business world or personal relations, there is one thing that we all need in order to get along and be successful: trust.
We all strive to have people trust us, but the truth is that trust can often be hard to build. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to appear instantly more trustworthy.
Here's how you can earn people's trust with these 5 body language secrets

1. The eyes have it.

The first thing you want to remember when building trust is keeping eye contact.
Eye contact is one of those things we subconsciously take note of every time we meet a person.
Have you ever tried to have a conversation with a person who was constantly shuffling around and looking in a different direction? Sporadic eye contact communicates lack of interest, distraction, and even dishonesty. Whenever you're speaking, be sure to keep good, steady eye contact.

2. Stand tall.

One question you should ask yourself if you're working towards any sort of leadership position: how are you holding your shoulders? The language of your posture carries more weight than you might assume.
A stooped position and sagging shoulders communicates either a lack of confidence, or just a lack of effort. If you want others to see you as confident and able, stand tall and keep your shoulders back.

3. Open arms.

When it comes to your arms, remember to keep an open posture. Holding your arms stiff or keeping them clasped behind your back will come off as pretentious, while keeping them crossed over your chest may be threatening.
If you must cross your arms, keep your posture loose and open. This will make you look more inviting, and give people more reason to trust you.

4. Give yourself a hand.

Often, people just don't know what to do with their hands. Nail-biting, thumb-twiddling, and finger-fidgeting are all outward signs of nervousness and anxiety. Avoid that. Keeping your hands in front of you, gesturing, and holding your hands in a comfortable, casual way is best. Another thing to keep in mind is your handshake.
Your handshake should be firm, but not crushing, and be sure to look the other person in the eye; a second of eye contact and a smile along with your handshake will do wonders for building trust.

5. I'll be your mirror.

Probably the single best way to build trust is to let the other person know you understand them. When listening to another person, practice 'mirroring' their emotions: nod to show interest, smile when they talk about good news, frown when they talk about bad news.
Make sure that you are empathetic and engaged when listening to anyone; besides learning something from them and showing respect, you'll be demonstrating that you're both a genuine person and worthy to be trusted.
Read the original article on Inc.. Copyright 2015. Follow Inc. on Twitter.