Trustworthiness is designed through systems, not sentiment.
Why structure beats intention
What's Really Happening
Trust follows structure long before it follows intention.
Why This Matters
Evidence-based trust research shows that people adapt rationally to the systems they work within. Culture, trust, and behaviour are shaped far more by incentives, measures, and consequences than by what leaders say they value. This is not a judgement; it is a systems reality, and one that can be diagnosed and addressed deliberately.
What To Address
Examine:
what is rewarded
what is tolerated
what is quietly penalised
Align these signals with the trustworthiness you intend.
What Improves
Behavioural alignment without coercion
Reduced reliance on enforcement
More predictable execution
The Takeaway
Design beats exhortation.
