The word "love" sits on a spectrum of meaning. Even when not used sarcastically the word can mean anything from mild positive emotion ("I loved meeting your extended family last weekend") to a description of a bond so deep that you would happily sacrifice your life in the name of it. It's easy to lose sight of the depth of its meaning, but deep it is.

I feel that the word "trust" fits firmly in the same category. As a concept, it's as rich to the human experience as love, although gets a fraction of our attention. Moreover, it doesn't describe an emotion but rather a fundamental component of effective human relationships.

What even is trust?

During our hiring process at Glean we ask candidates "what does trust mean to you?" I like the question because there is no obvious right answer. You might want to take a moment to ponder this yourself.

Charles Feltman defined trust as “the act of choosing to make something that is important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else.” This is a great definition for several reasons:

1. It's a choice you make. People can damage your willingness to trust, but ultimately you are in control.

2. It makes you vulnerable. Real trust comes about when you have something important to lose.

3. You are relying on someone else. The reason trust is so powerful is it what truly connects us.

The reason Trust is Foundational is that it is the bedrock of effective communication and collaboration.

This post is part of a series. Next time we'll explore how trust, or the lack thereof, impacts us in the workplace.