Ten Simple Facts About Trust

The news headlines and social media are exploding with stories about building and rebuilding trust. Sadly, most of these mentions have little to do with trust and more with crisis control, reputation management, what some refer to as “blah blah” talk, or what I like to call “check the box flavor of the day” trust. While this last strategy has become a popular way for some big name organizations to attempt to monetize trust, it’s a short-term Band-Aid at best.

If the next story you read about trust does not contain reference to any of the following facts, it’s probably about something else and the word “trust” is being used as an eyeball grabbing placeholder and potentially abused.

1. Trust is a two way street. Leaders who believe that they have earned trust by virtue of their title alone are being misled. They have a responsibility to model trust with all their stakeholders if they expect to receive it in return. Trust always starts at the top. Look no further than the current employee turnover rates, the “Great Resignation” and relationships with customers and suppliers and think about what, if anything, has been done to earn the trust one expects to receive.
2. Trust can be a learned competence. Some people embrace ethical or principled behavior quite naturally. Others can learn the basics. It’s a choice. Some behaviors build trust while others bust it. If you are not quite certain which is which, take the time to learn the basics.
3. Trust does not require a definition. Stop wasting time…