Trust: That Tricky Fellow Which Goes Both Ways

Arre, trust is such a funny thing, isn't it? One minute it's there, strong like your favourite strong tea, giving you that solid feeling. Next minute, someone takes it for granted even a little bit, and crack - it's gone, just like that. We all work hard to build it - through late-night calls with team, honest talks in meetings, or keeping small promises day after day. But the sad part? It gets abused so easily, by anyone who thinks "chalta hai, no big deal". And bhai, it's tricky because trust doesn't flow one way only - it has to come from both sides, giver and receiver, otherwise the whole balance goes topsy-turvy.

Let me tell you from my own experience in pharma sales ops and commercial analytics. Suppose you're leading a project, like those regional market reports. You share your insights openly, trust your team to deliver on time. But if one person delays the data or twists numbers just to look good in front of the boss, trust breaks. Poof! Suddenly everyone starts double-checking everything, meetings become longer, and that team spirit? Vanished.

Or the other way round - sometimes we expect too much from others without giving back. Like, you want your colleague to cover for you, but when they need help, you're suddenly busy. See? Trust goes both ways. If I don't trust you enough to share my ideas freely, or you abuse my trust by gossiping about it with others, on WhatsApp groups, relationship khatam.

I've seen this in my career journey too - in Indian companies especially, we follow "trust but verify", but actually it's more like "trust and expect the same back". Boss trusts you with big responsibility, you deliver. Team trusts you won't throw them under the bus to move upwards and/or in reviews, you stand by them. But when someone abuses it - maybe a manager who promises promotion or great raise but forgets, or a friend who leaks your job search plans - it hurts deep. And rebuilding? tough task, yaar. Takes months of consistent small actions.

But here's the good news - because trust is so fragile and two-way, people who handle it properly shine bright. Like rare diamonds in Mumbai local train.

How to do it? Simple steps we all know but forget:
  • Talk straight, no sugar-coating. Over-communicate like "Bhai, this report will be late by 2 days, sorry."
  • Own your mistakes fast. "My bad, I missed that email."
  • Deliver what you promise, even if small.
  • And most important, give trust first but smartly - expect it back, don't be blind.
In our pharma world, trust turns colleagues into family (but conditions apply), networks into job opportunities, challenges into wins. I've built lifelong connections at work, on LinkedIn and WhatsApp just because I kept trust intact both ways. So next time trust feels funny or tricky - like it's playing hide and seek - remember: guard it like your salary account (no matter if you are getting peanuts though). It is easy to abuse it, but nurture it properly, and it multiplies.
Babu Moshay - In life ka bada bazaar, trust hi wo asli currency hai jo dil se dil tak jata hai.
What do you think, readers? Please feel free to share your trust stories in comments!

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