Culture Architects™

52. Understanding the Dimensions of Trust w/ Dennis & Michelle Reina

Mar 30, 2026
Michelle Reina, researcher and consultant known for practical trust frameworks, and Dennis Reina, long-time organizational researcher and author on trust, join the conversation. They unpack the three dimensions of trust: character, communication, and capability. Short, deliberate behaviors for honoring commitments, rebuilding trust, and handling breaches are explored. Practical tools and a seven-step rebuild approach are highlighted.
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INSIGHT

Three Dimensions Define Trust

  • Trust has three distinct but interrelated dimensions: character, communication, and capability.
  • Dennis defines character as doing what you say, communication as open honesty, and capability as leveraging skills to serve customers.
ADVICE

Manage Expectations To Protect Character Trust

  • Manage expectations and keep agreements to build trust of character.
  • Dennis recommends clarifying deadlines and delivering as promised to avoid misunderstandings that erode trust.
ADVICE

Build A Goodwill Bank By Honoring Commitments

  • Honor commitments deliberately to build a 'goodwill bank account'.
  • David shares a practice: promise a delivery time (even earlier than needed) and call on the exact time to demonstrate reliability.
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