The Cultiv8 tool Part 1: Actionable insights for cultivating trust

By Julia E. Moore and Sobia Khan. Originally published on the Integration and Implementation Insights blog.

What are some useful ways of thinking about trust when developing plans to implement your research or strengthen your team? More importantly, what are some practical ways to build trust both as an individual and as an organisation?

Indeed, when asked about some of the most challenging parts of implementing changes and taking part in research collaborations, people often talk about trust. Trust is essential for equity and for working with people in effective ways, but so few of us are trained in how to build trust.

This i2Insights contribution provides a practical approach to thinking about trust, along with actionable steps to cultivate trust to help you achieve your goals, whether you are working with others to implement evidence or looking to strengthen your team dynamics.

Setting the stage to build trust

Before jumping to actions to build trust, it’s so important to start by understanding the relational context, which includes factors such as previous experiences, historical and social context, the environment, and power. Some initial questions to explore this relational context include:

• What is the “thing” you are trying to address?
• What is the stage of your relationship with those you are collaborating with or want to influence (eg., new, established, tense)?
• How would you rate that relationship in terms of the current level of trust?
• What contextual factors might be impacting trust (eg., history, power dynamics)?

The key to building trust is to start from a place of deep reflection: What level of trust do we need to implement the “thing” we are trying to implement, and why is our level of trust currently what it is?

Why we trust people (and they trust us)

To continue with deep reflection, a model can be used to help us understand the “why” of trust – why do people trust us, and why do we trust others? We find it helpful to use The Trust Trifecta, shown in the figure below, to unpack trust. In this model, trust is made up of three components:

• Authenticity: We trust people when we think they are showing up authentically (eg., sharing their motives, being vulnerable, and having integrity).
• Competence: We trust people when we think that they have the knowledge and skills to do what they are being asked to do (ie., they have the ability to do it) and when we believe they think we are competent.
• Connection: We trust people more when we feel a sense of connection with them.

It is often some combination of these three components that creates trust. For example, many of your work relationships might rely on competence to build trust, and these relationships deepen when you establish connection and authenticity. Many of our personal relationships heavily leverage connection to build trust. When working with new partners, we may want to show up with connection but also authenticity to demonstrate that we mean what we say and share similar values in the work. You can use The Trust Trifecta to unpack why there might be a lack of trust or ways in which you can enhance trust in your relationships.

Actions to cultivate trust

Building on your reflections, you can then identify actions that can help you build trust— actions to express authenticity, competence, and connection.

The Cultiv8 tool helps people navigate this process at both the individual and organizational levels.

Here are some examples of the actions you can take to build trust at the individual level.

If you are looking for actions to build trust between groups or organizations, here are some examples.

Trust and power are intrinsically connected

Trust is not built or maintained without considering power dynamics. Therefore, it’s very important to consider how power is contributing to trust in an ongoing way. As part of the Cultiv8 tool, we also deal with power dynamics and you can learn more about this in a companion i2Insights contribution at https://i2insights.org/2026/03/19/navigating-power/.

Conclusion

Trust is foundational for implementing change since all implementation efforts are a social process involving people working with one another. Trust influences how people show up, how they engage, what they contribute, and how they feel during the process. Trust is also an essential part of equitable implementation.

Cultivating trust is an ongoing activity. Every time we interact with others, we have the opportunity to build trust. After deep reflection, you can consider what actions you can take to build trust and the Cultiv8 tool can help you explore options.

Do the ideas and actions presented here resonate with you? Does the Cultiv8 tool provide practical ways of building trust that would work for you? Do you have additional ideas or useful actions to add? Are there experiences of building trust that you can share?

To find out more:

Visit the Cultiv8 tool online at: https://thecenterforimplementation.com/cultiv8-tool

The Center for Implementation has also held free webinars on the Cultiv8 tool. Sign up to access the recordings:

• From Insight to Action: Tools that Support Implementation – Event #1: Cultiv8 tool (22 January 2026). (Online): https://thecenterforimplementation.com/implementation-tools-event-series
• Cultiv8 Collaboration: Fostering Change Through Trust and Power (23 January 2024). (Online): https://thecenterforimplementation.com/events/#cultiv8-collaboration-event

References:

Brown, B. (2021). Dare to lead: The braving inventory. Leaflet, Brené Brown website. (Online – open access): https://brenebrown.com/resources/the-braving-inventory/

Frei, F. X. and Morriss, A. (2020). Begin with trust. Harvard Business Review, (May–June 2020), 98, 3: 112-121. (Online): https://hbr.org/2020/05/begin-with-trust

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement: Generative artificial intelligence was not used in the development of this i2Insights contribution. (For i2Insights policy on generative artificial intelligence please see https://i2insights.org/contributing-to-i2insights/guidelines-for-authors/#artificial-intelligence.)

Biographies:

Julia E. Moore PhD is the Executive Director of The Center for Implementation, based in Canada. She has worked closely with provincial, national, and international organizations to strengthen their knowledge translation and implementation efforts. She is most passionate about supporting professionals in applying implementation science and has delivered dozens of workshops to thousands of participants.

Sobia Khan PhD is the Director of Implementation at The Center for Implementation, based in Canada. Globally, she has supported and advised both researchers and practitioners on over 100 change initiatives across 5 continents, integrating multiple fields such as implementation science and systems thinking to achieve meaningful and large-scale change. She emphasizes pragmatic and equity-driven approaches, with a particular focus on the need for relationship-building, advocacy, and collective action to create change at all levels of the system.

Article source: The Cultiv8 tool Part 1: Actionable insights for cultivating trust. Republished by permission; RealKM Magazine’s Bruce Boyes is greatly honoured to be one of the i2Insights Ambassadors.

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