We talk about Trust a lot, both in life and business.  It’s quite hard to pin down exactly how we create it and here are a few ideas to help you develop trust across your networks.

1.     Reliability.  Woody Allen once said ‘80% of success in life is showing up’ and it’s so true. Especially in your network.  Showing up and being present is the first way to build trust.

2.     Credibility. Or put another way ‘knowing your onions’.  Being credible in the advice you offer and in the work you do, creates trust and makes you referable.

3.     Intimacy. This is about people feeling they know you well and importantly, that they are comfortable in your presence

These are all undermined by:

4.     Self-interest. Any hint of agenda or acting in your own self-interest and trust is broken.  We should instead aim for openness and transparency.

See Maister, Green and Galford for more on the Trust Equation

Think about your current network:

·       Who do you most need to build trust with?

·       Of the above factors which do you need to demonstrate more of?

·       What specific actions can you take to build trust?