Principle #16 – Trust comes after cooperation. In that order.
We love to talk about “building trust” in teams, as if it’s a mystical aura you conjure with enough vulnerability exercises and inspirational posters. But here’s the kicker: trust doesn’t show up first. Cooperation does.
Think about it—most of us say, “I’ll trust them when they prove themselves.” Meanwhile, they’re saying the same about us. That’s how teams get stuck in a polite-but-cautious standoff. Nobody moves because nobody trusts yet.
Here’s the secret: even rivals in WWI trenches figured this out. They stopped shooting, traded cigarettes, and eventually built a weird kind of trust—until the generals made them start shooting again. Cooperation came first; trust followed.
The Provocation
What’s the cost of your team’s “waiting game”? How many opportunities are you missing because you’re holding back until “they earn it”? You’re not protecting yourself; you’re bottlenecking performance.
The Next Step
Start small. Share information you don’t have to share. Offer help without waiting to be asked. Be the first to cooperate—even if it feels risky. Yes, someone might take advantage once in a while. But the payoff? A culture that trusts faster, moves faster, and achieves more.
Waiting for trust is like waiting for your Wi-Fi to get stronger while never plugging in the router. Act first. Trust follows.