It is not trust, it is trustworthiness

In today’s workplace, “trust” is everywhere: on websites, in company slogans, splashed across mission statements, and proclaimed from the PowerPoint slides of all-hands meetings. It sparkles like glitter which is nice to look at, but ultimately weightless.

- FRANCIS J. KONG

It’s become one of those overused words, like “synergy” or “innovation,” that everyone nods along to, but few actually believe. Because deep down, we know the truth: people don’t want to be told to trust, they want proof that they can.

Here’s the problem: we’ve made trust the goal, when the real issue is trustworthiness.

Let me put it this way. Trust isn’t something you can demand. It’s not a line item you can drop into your brand strategy or HR memo and expect instant loyalty. It’s something you earn, over time, through action, not PR.

Let’s lighten the mood with a couple of stories I came across. Fictional but for illustration’s purpose:

Story #1 Boss: “You're four hours late!” Employee: “I fell from the second floor this morning.” Boss: “That’s 20 feet. Shouldn’t have taken you more than five seconds!”

Story #2: A security guard says, “My boss told me to watch ‘The Office’ every night. I’m now on Season 4 on Netflix, and I still don’t know what it has to do with security.”

Now, the real question is: would you trust either of them?