Featured Word
Trust
Dictionary Definition
Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
Former Chairman of HDFC, India
When people trust you, they put their faith in you and believe in you. Trust is the foundation of any human relationship—be it personal or business. I believe that trust is never given, it has to be earned. Trust yourself and others will trust you.
Film Director, Producer
Trust is a more selfless emotion than even love. It comes with no strings attached. It is seamless, and thus you can trust more than one person. In fact, to be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. Trust is not narcissistic and thus you can trust yourself. A man who does not trust himself can never trust another. Trust is instinctive, and each of us lives by our own instincts. Trust makes one secure: trust makes one feel safe. It takes years to build trust but seconds to destroy it… And it takes only suspicion, not proof to create a crack… In fact trust is like a mirror: once broken, you can never look at it the same again. With all the weariness about trust, we could end up never wanting to trust anyone, but though you may be deceived if you trust too much, you will live in torment unless you trust enough. It would be utopia if we lived in a world where we could trust one and all… We all dream of a perfect world, and as Khalil Gibran said, 'Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate of eternity.'
Researcher, Story Teller
BRAVING TRUST
The acronym BRAVING breaks down trust into seven elements:
Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Nonjudgment, and Generosity.
BOUNDARIES
Setting boundaries is making clear what’s okay and what’s not okay, and why.
RELIABILITY
You do what you say you’ll do. At work, this means staying aware of your competencies and limitations so you don’t overpromise and are able to deliver on commitments and balance competing priorities.
ACCOUNTABILITY
You own your mistakes, apologize, and make amends.
VAULT
You don’t share information or experiences that are not yours to share. I need to know that my confidences are kept, and that you’re not sharing with me any information about other people that should be confidential.
INTEGRITY
Choosing courage over comfort; choosing what’s right over what’s fun, fast, or easy; and practicing your values, not just professing them.
NONJUDGMENT
I can ask for what I need, and you can ask for what you need. We can talk about how we feel without judgment.
GENEROSITY
Extending the most generous interpretation to the intentions, words, and actions of others.
The BRAVING Inventory can be used as a rumble tool, a conversation guide to use with colleagues that walks us through the conversation from a place of curiosity, learning, and ultimately trust-building.
Brené Brown, Strong Ground (2025)
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