Strategy Bites

The Trustworthiness Test – Creating Safe Conditions for Tough Conversations

Disagreement turns toxic when people feel they are in enemy relationships, where concessions seem like surrender and dialogue feels like a trap. This strategy flips the script: Rather than asking people to trust each other, you focus on making interactions trustworthy by structuring conversations so that no one feels exploited or manipulated. By creating safety in the process—rather than in relationships—this approach allows for structured, honest, and fair engagement.
Level of difficulty

Intermediate

Est. time required

45-60 minutes

Series

Leading Others

Audience

Everyone