How do you earn trust from your community and partners?

1 Know your community

The first step to earning trust is to know your community: who they are, what they care about, what they need, and what they want. This means doing your homework, listening to their stories, understanding their context, and acknowledging their diversity. It also means being transparent about your own identity, values, and motivations, and how they relate to the community. By showing genuine interest and curiosity, you can demonstrate that you are not there to impose your agenda or exploit their situation, but to collaborate and learn from them.

2 Communicate effectively

The second step to earning trust is to communicate effectively: clearly, honestly, respectfully, and frequently. This means using appropriate language, tone, and channels, and avoiding jargon, assumptions, or exaggerations. It also means being open and responsive to feedback, questions, and concerns, and admitting your mistakes or limitations. By communicating effectively, you can establish credibility, accountability, and rapport with your community and partners, and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts that can erode trust.

3 Build relationships

The third step to earning trust is to build relationships: not only with the leaders, influencers, or allies, but also with the grassroots, the marginalized, or the skeptical. This means spending time with them, showing empathy and appreciation, and finding common ground and shared interests. It also means supporting their initiatives, celebrating their successes, and recognizing their contributions. By building relationships, you can create a sense of belonging, solidarity, and loyalty with your community and partners, and foster a culture of trust and cooperation.

4 Share power

The fourth step to earning trust is to share power: not only in terms of decision-making, but also in terms of resources, information, and recognition. This means involving your community and partners in setting goals, strategies, and actions, and respecting their opinions and preferences. It also means sharing your knowledge, skills, and networks, and providing opportunities for learning and growth. By sharing power, you can empower your community and partners, and show that you value their agency, autonomy, and dignity.

5 Deliver results

The fifth step to earning trust is to deliver results: not only in terms of outcomes, but also in terms of processes and impacts. This means following through on your promises, meeting your deadlines, and fulfilling your obligations. It also means monitoring and evaluating your progress, reporting on your achievements, and acknowledging your challenges. By delivering results, you can prove your competence, reliability, and effectiveness, and demonstrate that you are making a positive difference for your community and partners.

6 Maintain trust

The sixth step to earning trust is to maintain it: not only during the project, but also after it ends. This means staying in touch, following up, and providing support, and not disappearing or abandoning your community and partners. It also means reflecting on your experience, learning from your feedback, and improving your practice, and not repeating your mistakes or ignoring your shortcomings. By maintaining trust, you can sustain your relationships, build your reputation, and create opportunities for future collaboration with your community and partners.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?