Trust
„The question is not whether we are able to change, but whether we are changing fast enough.”
— Angela Merkel
Agility Through Ecosystems of Trust
(See also: To Keep Pace with Change, Co-Create an Ecosystem of Trust)
In the light of rapidly advancing, AI-driven technologies, Angela Merkel’s statement in an interview with the Financial Times in 2005 is more relevant than ever. The key to keeping up? Trust.
Trust is a powerful accelerator for innovation, adaptation, and resilience—both at the individual and organizational levels. Yet many organizations still operate with a transactional mindset, where success is defined by the monetary efficiency of the input-output ratio, while values such as trust, integrity, or honesty are often reduced to superficial branding elements.
The issue? Short-term wins can jeopardize long-term vitality and sustainability—passing the real cost on to the next management or generation. Meanwhile, the potential of trust remains largely untapped.
It’s time to flip the script.
What Is an Ecosystem of Trust?
At powernavi, we support organizations to transform into ecosystems of trust—work environments in which all parties involved are committed to high trust.
For a successful transformation, we recommend an integrated and systematic approach, tailored to the specific organization. To this end, we apply our CIPOOF framework.
CIPOOF Framework for Co-Creating Ecosystems of Trust
CIPOOF stands for:
Context
(Sub-)Cultures influence everything. Trust is shaped by social norms and power dynamics. We help uncover the often fear- or ego-driven patterns that silently block trust and cause dysfunction.
Input
Research by neuroscience expert Paul J. Zak shows that specific trust-building behaviors (e.g., clarifying expectations or delegating freedom of action) release oxytocin in the brain—creating a virtuous trust cycle.
Process
Alignment builds trust: When motives, words, actions, and emotions match, credibility, reliability, and intimacy grow. We emphasize both how information is communicated and what is felt beneath the surface.
Output
Trust is mutual: It arises when people send, receive, and respond to trustworthy signals. We define trust (inspired by Stephen M. R. Covey) as: Reciprocal reliance on character and competence.
Outcome
Trust delivers real benefits:
- ⇒ Safety: Enhanced psychological safety
- ⇒ Speed: Faster flow of information
- ⇒ Relief: Reduced social complexity
- ⇒ Productivity: Higher engagement and performance
- ⇒ Innovation: More open to change
- ⇒ Health: Less distress
- ⇒ Vitality: Greater joy of living
Feedback
Lasting trust requires learning loops. Our approach helps teams evaluate trust levels and respond with insight-driven improvements—especially taking sociocultural aspects into account.
A Participatory Approach to Trust
While the CIPOOF framework provides structure, our integrated approach centers on co-creation.
We partner with leaders and teams to build environments where trust is the norm, not the exception—where people feel safe to speak up, contribute to shared goals, and unlock their full potential.
In today’s VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous), trust isn’t just a value—it’s a strategy.
Trust Services
CIPOOF Framework
Customizing and implementing the CIPOOF Framework.
Sociocultural Patterns
Identifying and mapping sociocultural patterns.
Perceiving Skills
Training skills in perceiving congruence between motives, words, actions, and emotions.
Or get inspired by our impulse talk on trust.