The Upside of Disruption

CHAPTER 5Evolution: In Trust, We Grow

“Trust is risky. It's vulnerable. It's a leap of faith… . The more we trust, the farther we can venture.”

– Esther Perel

Every Christmas, I visit the European city of Ljubljana, charmingly known as the city of dragons, to join my partner's family for a well‐earned vacation. Ljubljana is a city of medieval castles, pastel‐colored buildings, and medieval market squares. With winter temperatures dropping below zero degrees, I eat and drink more than I should, especially hot chocolate, hearty “Jota” soups, and a delicious local cake called “Potica.” One late afternoon, after exploring local bookshops and galleries, my partner and I discovered a small coffee shop in Ljubljana's downtown district. Each table was adorned with candle sticks, and the lighting was just right, so we settled there for a few hours, talking and sipping hot coffees. The next day, I realized I had left my new scarf in the coffee shop and said to my partner, “There is no way the scarf will still be there now.” We decided to find out either way and returned to the coffee shop where, surprised, I discovered my scarf neatly folded and exactly where I had left it.

Wearing my scarf again, I thought about why trust is the ultimate currency for leaders to navigate the future and trust certainty gives others the clarity to turn talk into action.

Without trust, leadership breaks ...