Strategy Bites
The Mistrust Bridge – Moving from Fear to Curiosity
Disagreements become dangerous when people expect harm from the other side. In these moments, people don’t just disagree—they see their opponents as threats whose success would mean their own loss.
A common mistake facilitators make is trying to build trust too soon. Instead, the first step is shifting people out of distrust (expecting harm) and into mistrust (uncertainty about the other side’s intent). Mistrust makes space for curiosity, and curiosity allows dialogue to happen. This strategy helps people lower their defenses without forcing them into premature trust.
Level of difficulty
Easy
Est. time required
15–30 minutes
Series
Leading Others
Audience