To trust fundamentally means to make yourself vulnerable to the actions of others. We trust because we believe they can do what we want them to do, and that they will do right by us. When we choose to trust someone, we willingly give them power over us, trusting that they will not abuse this power. Trust is a special form of dependence. It is predicated on the idea that we can be more than disappointed: we can be betrayed.
Understanding how trust works in personal relationships is, it goes without saying, important.
However, it becomes even more important—and more complex—when we talk about companies. When we interact with a company, we are also making ourselves vulnerable to it. When we buy a product or service, we trust that it will work as promised and will not harm us. When we take a job, we trust that a company will treat us fairly. When we invest in a company, we trust that they will give us truthful information to make investment decisions. As members of the public we need to trust that a company will not use its powers to cause undue harm to us.
