Many definitions of Trust exist. Here are just a few for your reflection:

“What is trust? I could give you a dictionary definition, but you know it when you feel it. Trust happens when leaders are transparent, candid, and keep their word. It’s that simple.” – Jack Welch, Former CEO, General Electric

“Trust is a verb … something that we make, create, build, maintain, and sustain with our actions, promises, commitments, emotions, demeanor, and integrity. – Professor Al Gini, Loyola University, Chicago

“Trust is choosing to risk making something you value vulnerable to another person’s action.” – Charles Feltman, The Thin Book of Trust

Dictionary definitions:

– Derived from the German word trost, which suggest comfort

– Allow without fear

– Have confidence or faith in

– Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing

– Believing in the honesty and reliability of others

– To hope confidently; to believe

From Wikipedia:

Trust is a relationship of reliance. A trusted party is presumed to seek to fulfill policies, ethical codes, law and their previous promises.

Trust does not need to involve belief in the good character, vices, or morals of the other party. Persons engaged in a criminal activity usually trust each other to some extent. Also, trust does not need to include an action that you and the other party are mutually engaged in. Trust is a prediction of reliance on an action, based on what a party knows about the other party. Trust is a statement about what is otherwise unknown – for example, because it is far away, cannot be verified, or is in the future.