Trust Glossary
The Trust Equation
A framework for measuring trust: (Credibility + Reliability + Safety) ÷ Self-Orientation.
The Trust Equation is a structured way to think about trust. The formula is:
Trust = (Credibility + Reliability + Safety) ÷ Self-Orientation
Credibility refers to expertise and competence — whether people believe you know what you're talking about. Reliability is about consistency and follow-through — whether people can count on you to deliver. Safety measures whether people feel comfortable being candid with you. Self-Orientation is the denominator — it reflects how much focus is directed toward your own interests versus others' needs.
The equation's power is in the denominator: even high credibility, reliability, and safety scores are divided (and diminished) by high self-orientation. This captures the intuitive truth that self-serving behavior undermines trust regardless of competence.
How TrustLoop measures this
TrustLoop operationalizes the Trust Equation through its CRSS framework (Credibility, Reliability, Safety, Self-Orientation), measuring each dimension weekly through anonymous colleague reflections and self-assessments.
Ready to measure trust — not just talk about it?