When working in Operations, it can be easy to be holed up in a room and do everything virtually, especially when the people you support, collaborate with, and enable are all over the country. However, I have found that interacting with the people I support and help out in the organization on an operational level on a physical, face to face, personal level does a lot to bring trust and goodwill into the working relationship.This can be achieved in many different ways including giving seminars at a conference, eating meals together with the staff, playing teams sports and having an impromptu question and answer time with the people you help out with. However, I found that playing a game of RISK 2210 A.D. the most effective and enjoyable time to build trust and goodwill.
What are some ways which you find helpful in building trust and goodwill with clients and staff who you support and help?
Photo credit: Matt Sklar
I would say....by flying to Canada :)
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, there's something about being with people face to face and sharing a meal that does wonders for a relationship. That's why we often say we are 'campus crusade for conferences'. It's not even the conference that makes the impact -- it's the rooming together, sidewalk conversations, meals, and outings that build bonds and trust.