Trust is a crucial factor in all working relationships. Network relationships are no exception. Trust is defined as "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing." Trust is gained over time and familiarity with another, and confidence grows with this familiarity. Trust is also earned when opportunities for members of a network to trust each other arise. You can schedule various exercises and activities to increase trust among group members.
Instructions
1. Hold meetings that are specifically geared toward building trust throughout the network. Start the meeting by allowing everyone to take turns sharing information about themselves that other members of the group may not be aware of. This allows members of the group to learn about each others' families, hobbies or other interests. During the meeting, discuss possible options for trust-building activities that would be both entertaining and instrumental in building a trust relationship among the group.
2. Perform exercises that require trust among network members. Some organizations that specialize in trust building, and employ coaches that conduct team-building seminars and exercises. These companies can be expensive, charging anywhere from $500-5,000 per participant. Most trust exercises are performed while blindfolded to reinforce the trust factor. Many of these trust- and team-building exercises are available on the Internet.
3. Take network members out of the working environment to gain personal familiarity with each other. People are more apt to trust those whom they see as friends rather than just coworkers or business partners. Cookouts, pizza parties, group games, happy-hour outings after business hours and other out-of-the-office affairs where dialog is encouraged, help to build friendships and create a strong foundation for trust.
