Over the next 6 weeks we have a rare opportunity to work closely with people around the world who we may never meet. Then again, we may find that our evokations take us to other corners of the globe to places where we will need to rely on each other for survival. This network we are weaving here will mean life or death for many in our extended circles and it is important enough that we take this role we share seriously as we grow into this work together.
To work together we must first know that we can trust one another. Trust is a very difficult thing to pin down and know when working virtually through words, videos and photos. While video and skype and other remote conferencing tools provide some sense of what the other is like it is still rare for us to truly connect and form a kinship of respect with others in digital space. We may make friends here but few of those friendships will really stick around long term. The bonds that will last will be forged over our evokations and long term endeavors where we choose to partner together to build more than we can do alone.
How do we build partnerships based on trust and respect? First we LISTEN. We hear where others are, what's going on for them and what their struggles are in the current situation. We offer what resources we can but do not force our will on others -- we work gently and with compassion for the great journey that others have taken to be at this place with us.
My question to you is: how do you build trust in these networks? How can you express to others that you are a trustworthy person who will get the job done and be dependable in times of extreme stress and crisis?