If we trust someone we put ourselves at risk, but we do so voluntarily. In business there may be no way of clinching that deal without engaging in that personal risk, but to deny or externalise that risk is to enter the world of blame and misuse of power. This book reconnects our intuitive understanding of trust with the roots of business risk. When there is a strong enough trust between parties in a business environment, you can: * Be aware of far more of the workings of the environment, including how to generate value for other stakeholders * Strengthen business relationships which help to deal with unimagined opportunities and contingencies * Understand how to develop lean business processes without unnecessary or counterproductive management activities * Manage business risks that could otherwise play havoc with the business When business people deny the importance of trust, when some of their business relationships become cynical and exploitative, then a cycle is formed: lack of trust leads to cynical actions and cynical actions lead to a further erosion of trust. In this book, Aidan Ward and John Smith teach how to trust others and pinpoint real ris k in business.

Aidan Ward and John Smith are partners in Antelope Projects Ltd, a business risk management consultancy with a prime interest in authenticity and trust.