How do you build community trust?

Originally answered Feb 2, 2019

The community manager should

• Review all membership requests

1. Require members to provide their name, location, and organization
2. Admit all who appear to practice or have a sincere interest in the community’s topic
3. Welcome new members

• Allow most types of posts within a few common-sense limits

1. Encourage diverse opinions if expressed in a collaborative manner
2. Require all posts to be personal, relevant, and not advertisements or spam
3. Keep the tone civil, friendly, and supportive, with no intimidation, blame, or ridicule

• Moderate with a light touch using proven practices to ensure that

1. Queries and requests for help receive prompt, helpful replies
2. Members are able to post without negative consequences
3. Members help, thank, and praise each other

5 Ways to Build Trust in a Community

1. Facilitate conversations between members online, on calls, in meetings, and outside of the community so that they get to know each other
2. Encourage storytelling, allowing members to tell their personal stories to help the community to understand their backgrounds and perspectives
3. Hold periodic face-to-face meetings to establish trust between members
4. Encourage members to post, reply, present, participate in calls, attend meetings, and get together informally to build trusting relationships
5. Allow members to express their individual personalities

See also:

1. The importance of trust in knowledge sharing
2. Why won’t people ask questions in the open?
3. Community Culture