How can you establish trust before a negotiation with community members?

Spending time listening outside of any formal start nothing connects people more than sharing food and a cuppa. This takes time but sure is worth while also gives you the benefit of being a connector and possible facilatator of areas and projects outside of your brief. I once met a church group with an older congregation with most now living outside of neighborhood who owned a church i connected with young church group looking for a space who lived in the neighborhood. The ended up sharing the space and gaining knowledge from other.

In addition to knowing who your audience is, you need to know their pain points. Your presentation should always be aligned with what is best for the community, and therefore it should work to remove pain from your community members experiences. By understanding where they're currently struggling, you'll be able to present yourself and your ideas in a way that solves their problems. If you can show your audience you're working with them, it'll be much easier to get their buy in.

Keep your online profile active and up-to-date. Comment on areas where you have expertise or experience and hold back commenting where you don't. Offer support and recognition to people you know or are connected to but don't go 'over the top'. Be Authentic

Yes, share your ideas online all the time and keep your online presence uptodate but too many "self-polishing" can backfire. Be honest, be open. And offline reputation will also have a huge impact. Sometimes bigger than the online.

A strong and robust online presence is a good way to build that trust. They will google you beforehand and if your online presence is impressive, it will make them will better about you before they meet you.

Listen actively and have a open channel for communication . Collaborate and add value to their projects , work and business. Maintain transparency in your words and action. If you are adding value then people will negotiate and respect your relationship with them .

We all bring something to the table, and listening patiently (even if you disagree with someone's position) is critical to develop trust. Try your hardest not to interrupt someone. Once you understand where the other person is coming from, without any preconceived views, you will be able to deliver a more targeted and effective message that responds to the other person's views while delivering your own point.

Remember that body language is 97% of communication, and that how we sit, stand, cross our arms, lean in and/or away, our facial expressions, a well timed ‘nod,’ eye contact, are as essential as clarifying questions and ongoing discussion. It lists individuals know they are heard, that we are engaged, and that we care about what they are saying. - Dr. Nikki Martinez, Psy.D., LCPC

To establish trust before a negotiation with community members, it's crucial to actively engage with the community, listen to their concerns, and be transparent about your intentions and objectives. Consistency, empathy, and respect are key, as is delivering on promises and building personal relationships. Involving the community in decision-making processes, respecting their cultural norms, and utilizing respected intermediaries can also contribute to trust-building, setting the stage for productive negotiations and collaborations.

If later in the conversation you ask/say something that references and/or acknowledges something they said earlier in the meeting, they will get the said that not only did you heard what they said, you really took it in.

Background research on the other party may sometimes push you to be overboard on topics they prefer which may be at your disadvantage. Therefore it’s good to strike a balance between stories you share and topics of discussion particularly avoiding politically and culturally sensitive subjects.

Everyone wants to know that there are other people who share their experience, who have been through similar situations. We all want to know that we are not the only one that has been through something. Sharing our stories with humble authenticity allows people to see us for the human beings we are. They will hear, and, more importantly, feel our sincerity. That will open up the doors to building positive relationships.

You're not just a professional but also a person. Letting them know who you are is a great way to establish a connection. People overlook this but it's something that makes a difference especially if you're a person who volunteers, gives to others, etc. If you have common interests, it's a great way to bond.

If you have an experience that resonates to the other parties issue, sharing the story may create a connection and build trust. This shows you can feel them and that you are committed to helping

Providing value for your members is an avenue for them to grow and be loyal to your community. When they know that they can improve and expand their knowledge, network and resources from your community, they will be an amplifier for growth in the community.

In my experience, providing value is as the core of producing win/win situations. Both parties bring something of value to the table and work together to produce a solution that will benefit both parties. It works the same in a community. Each member bringing their talents and abilities to the table with the intent to lift, build, and support other community members by sharing knowledge, mentoring where needed, and networking There is always something we can learn from each other that can contribute to positive outcomes for everyone.

They want to know that you bring something to the table and you can establish this by making some meaningful contributions. Often there are meetings and a lot of people are sitting around - some say a lot but it's of no substance. Others say a little but it's really impactful and significant. Display that you have a firm grasp on the issues at hand.

Giving something away free to them often start the trust building process. Let them know that you want them to benefit as well regarding the joint project, whatever it might be.

This is just good manners and shows that you're a good person. Even if the deal doesn't go through this time round, by showing you're a class act, you can ensure that it happens next time. People are too focused on the short term when they should be playing the long game.

This is the stage at which transparency is the *most* important. And just as helpful as sharing what you will do is sharing what you will *not* do moving forward. Don't be afraid to ask other members of your team and other relevant stakeholders to share ownership of these updates. I've found that delivering a one-stop shop for this progress tracking is ideal (think: a Trello board), as it reduces questions and lessens ambiguity.

People appreciate knowing that a conversation or meeting that provided value and showed appreciation wasn't just a "one and done" experience. Set expectations for when the next meeting/conversation will occur. Consider a follow up email thanking the group for their time. Include the salient points of the conversation/meeting along with the day for the next meeting. Ask for feedback to ensure you captured the points correctly. Let people know they can reach out if they have any questions.

In addition to, active listening, fostering trust with community members before a negotiation involves demonstrating empathy. This means sincerely acknowledging their concerns and perspectives, while recognizing their needs and aspirations. By genuinely understanding and appreciating their experiences, trust can be solidified, creating an atmosphere conducive to fruitful negotiations.

In addition to, active listening, fostering trust with community members before a negotiation involves demonstrating empathy. This means sincerely acknowledging their concerns and perspectives, while recognizing their needs and aspirations. By genuinely understanding and appreciating their experiences, trust can be solidified, creating an atmosphere conducive to fruitful negotiations.

Ask Good Questions As an attorney and in my consulting practice, I’ve discovered that one of the most effective ways to establish trust and rapport in any situation where you don’t already have it is to pose thoughtful, meaningful questions about the common goals or concerns of the group or community - and then really listen to the answers. Even if you’ve done your research, don’t assume you already know what they will say. You may also find that they don’t know the answers or they haven’t given the question enough thought, which is helpful in its own way. By asking good questions, you demonstrate that you are ready to listen, ready to collaborate, & that you have expertise that can be valuable. It’s truly a shortcut to building trust!

When I first looked at this article and considered responding, I couldn't help but think of a story shared by John Maxwell about his first experience as a leader at the age of 22. He thought he had a good handle on how to step into his leadership role, only to learn that while he had the title, there was really one person in the room that dominated the conversation, and it wasn't him. There was an older gentleman that everyone respected and gave deference to. The lesson is, when coming into any new community, pay close attention to who people are listening to the most. Those people are the major influencers. Concentrate first on getting to know them and building trust with them. That trust won will lead to rapport and trust with others.

Knowing your audience, active listening, and providing value are not strategies; they are the starting point. Trust is built over time and follow up should be a regular activity. You cannot share your story as part of a marketing strategy, you reveal your story over time as you struggle alongside the other members of the community; they will also reveal their stories to you. You cannot drop into a community, build trust, and then start a negotiation; if you want to be valued partner you will have to make yourself a member of that community. If you are unwilling to put in that kind of effort you are a transactional partner. Transactional partners are fine and necessary. Trust you earn from the community makes you a part of that community.