Episode 3 - Trust part 1, and the Trust Equation

In this episode, we dove into a topic that sounds simple on the surface but quickly reveals how slippery it can be: trust. We found ourselves wondering why so many organisations avoid working on trust at all. Is it because trust feels like such an obvious hygiene factor - something that should already be there? Or is it because, once you look closely, trust becomes nuanced, messy, and complex in ways that feel hard to tackle?

To help us make sense of it, we explored the well-known Trust Equation from The Trusted Advisor. Breaking it down piece by piece opened up a much richer conversation about credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation - and why each plays such a crucial role in how trust is formed and how easily it can fracture. It quickly became clear that this is a far bigger topic than one episode can hold… and we’re definitely coming back to it.

Juliet rounded things off beautifully with the quote “Trust arrives on foot but departs on horseback.”

A reminder that trust can be slow and delicate - and yet, in our next episode, we’re excited to explore whether there are ways to speed up trust creation inside organisations without cutting corners or losing authenticity.

If you’re curious about what really builds trust at work - beyond the buzzwords - we’d love you to join us for this conversation and the ones to come.