The Structure of Interpersonal Trust in the Workplace

Abstract

The importance of each of five underlying interpersonal trust components (competence, consistency, integrity, loyalty, and openness) as they affect trust among supervisors, subordinates, and peers was examined. Subjects included 66 supervisors and executives. While the importance of conditions of trust differed within each dyad, the results were not as predicted, as the order of importance was the same for all three dyads: integrity > competence > loyalty > consistency > openness. Among dyads, no differences were found for the importance of integrity, competence, or loyalty while consistency and openness were more important for trust in peers than trust in supervisors or subordinates.