Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Trust Economy

Developments in cyber space have created a refreshing phenomenon in business. We now have a world where people pay without seeing goods, rely on the word of others, share intellectual property knowing that this is the best way of building goodwill and getting their message out there. It's known as the 'Trust Economy'. The internet has done this. We use it for everything. As we become more reliant on laptops, we feel more comfortable communicating online rather than face to face. We would rather make an email enquiry than speak to a person who can answer any questions that may come up. And the younger age groups will share their lives with thousands, sometimes creating an exaggerated image of a life on social networking sites.

Face to Face Relationships
Where does this leave the traditional way of relating to others, or even to ourselves? Wouldn't it be wonderful if this new trusting approach applied to our lives offline. Maybe we could learn to trust ourselves more - listen to our own intuition instead of old irrational fears that have been bred into us by others or past experience. If we could learn to invest in ourselves in the belief that we have what it takes to succeed and to share our fears and dreams honestly with those close to us. Perhaps we could learn to ask for help more instead of wrestling with the growing isolation of depression in our communities.

Coaching as a way of communicating
The wonderful thing about being coached or coaching others is that this starts to happen immediately. It is impossible to enter into a coaching relationship that works without laying everything on the line. When we confront the barriers that get in the way of what we want, we are revealing something of ourselves often on a deep level. By shining the light on fears and recognizing that they have no real basis, we can move to a stronger operating platform. As a coach, we cannot work with clients without learning something about ourselves in each and every session.

So whether you want to achieve something different in your life or if you work with others and want to learn a more effective way of helping them - seek out a good coach, pick up a good coaching guide or take part in a workshop with others who share the same passion. Be part of a growing movement that can change the way we relate to the world, online and offline.