Built for Trust · Figure 14.3

A Quick Trust Maturity Check

The Trust Maturity Model™ and Trust Maturity Diagnostic™ show leaders how reliably their organization turns trust from intention into operating capability.

Score 12 statements from 1 to 5 to find your level on the Trust Maturity Model, from Trust Theater to Trust Capability, and see which next move will produce the greatest improvement.

  • 12 statements
  • Score each from 1 to 5
  • Total range 12–60
Start the check
From reactive messaging to enterprise capability
  1. Level 1Trust TheaterReactive messaging and reputation protection
  2. Level 2Trust AwarenessTrust recognized as strategic exposure
  3. Level 3Trust CoordinationFunctions align around shared trust initiatives
  4. Level 4Trust IntegrationTrust embedded in operating decisions
  5. Level 5Trust CapabilityManaged as an enterprise capability

Advance through the levels with the Trust Architecture™ methodology.

Step 1 of 2

Score each statement from 1 to 5

1 = Strongly disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Somewhat agree, 4 = Agree, 5 = Strongly agree. All 12 statements are needed for a total.

  1. Statement 1 of 12Statement 1: Consequential stakeholder beliefs are defined

    Full statement 1

    We have defined the consequential beliefs customers, employees, investors, partners, and regulators must hold for the strategy to work

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  2. Statement 2 of 12Statement 2: Every material claim has current evidence and an owner

    Full statement 2

    Every material claim has current evidence, a named owner, known limitations, and a review date

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  3. Statement 3 of 12Statement 3: Observed, modeled, inferred, and unknown are kept distinct

    Full statement 3

    Leaders distinguish clearly among what has been observed, modeled, inferred, and remains unknown

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  4. Statement 4 of 12Statement 4: We see where customer doubt changes decisions

    Full statement 4

    We identify where customer doubt is affecting purchase decisions, renewals, complaints, or referrals

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  5. Statement 5 of 12Statement 5: Platform dependencies are visible, owned, and monitored

    Full statement 5

    Our major platform dependencies are visible, owned, monitored, and supported by escalation paths or credible alternatives

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  6. Statement 6 of 12Statement 6: Every material AI use is documented and owned

    Full statement 6

    Every material AI use is documented with an accountable owner, disclosure standard, human-review requirement, monitoring process, and stop condition

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  7. Statement 7 of 12Statement 7: Employees get material information early enough

    Full statement 7

    Employees receive material information early enough to understand the change, its rationale, and its implications for their work

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  8. Statement 8 of 12Statement 8: Rewards reinforce the values we claim

    Full statement 8

    Compensation, promotion, recognition, and resource-allocation decisions reinforce the values and behaviors the company claims to support

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  9. Statement 9 of 12Statement 9: Consequential concerns can be escalated without failing

    Full statement 9

    An employee can raise a consequential concern, including a concern about a senior leader’s initiative, without the escalation process quietly failing

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  10. Statement 10 of 12Statement 10: The board sees evidence on where credibility is moving

    Full statement 10

    The board regularly receives an evidence-based view of where credibility is strengthening or weakening and what it means for growth and risk

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  11. Statement 11 of 12Statement 11: Trust metrics have baselines, owners, and thresholds

    Full statement 11

    Trust-related operating metrics have baselines, accountable owners, review cadences, and thresholds that trigger action

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

  12. Statement 12 of 12Statement 12: Failures fix the system, not just the message

    Full statement 12

    After a trust failure or near miss, the organization corrects the underlying system as well as the message

    Choose a score from 1 to 5 for this statement.

Total score0/ 60
0 of 12 scored
LevelScore all 12 to see

Step 2 of 2

Your details

Name, email and organization are required to see your result.

Enter your name.

Enter a valid email address, like name@company.com.

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Your result

Your Trust Maturity Check

0Total score, range 12–60

Level

Where your total sits on The Trust Maturity Model

  1. Level 1Trust TheaterReactive messaging and reputation protection
  2. Level 2Trust AwarenessTrust recognized as strategic exposure
  3. Level 3Trust CoordinationFunctions align around shared trust initiatives
  4. Level 4Trust IntegrationTrust embedded in operating decisions
  5. Level 5Trust CapabilityManaged as an enterprise capability

Start here

Your two lowest-scoring statements:

    Directional, not a grade

    A high average can conceal one dangerous weakness.

    Start with the two lowest-scoring questions, the evidence behind each score, and the next practical move.

    Trust Maturity Diagnostic

    The fuller assessment of strengths, gaps, and priorities.

    Take the Trust Maturity Diagnostic™ (opens in a new tab) Learn about Built for Trust

    Advance through the levels with the Trust Architecture methodology.

    Source: Dave Sutton, Built for Trust: How Organizations Build Credibility as a Competitive Advantage (Greenleaf Book Group, 2027), “A Quick Trust Maturity Check” (Figure 14.3) and The Trust Maturity Model levels. © Blue Rhino Capital. The score is directional, not a grade.