Can we “pilot” trust?

Can we “pilot” trust?

How can one be trusting but not gullible?

I connect the principles of the lean startup with today’s gospel about trustworthiness. The lean startup principle can be summed by using pilots and rapid prototyping of products (minimum viable products) to manage risk, avoid “one time big time” investments and distribute risk across multiple smaller cycles, and accelerate learning.

If we transfer this to the way we approach trust, we can “test” trust in small ways (i.e., “pilot” trust) with smaller prices to pay. If our trust is betrayed, we only lose little.

Thus, in this sense, we can let trusting be a reasonable default within contexts where the price at stake is something we can manage.

Luke 16:9-15. Trustworthiness in small matters leads to trustworthiness in greater matters.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 309: NOVEMBER 5, 2022]