Trust is lopsided. In a trusting relationship, one party gives the trust and the other party receives it. It always goes in one direction. Two people may have mutual trust for one another, but this is two instances of trust, not just one. Balanced mutual trust is of course ideal, particularly in relationships where partners are equal, such as a marriage, but even an equal partnership is not a paragon of symmetrical trust. I trust my wife, for instance, to speak fluent Spanish, but she cannot trust me in the same way. We have different skills, different interests, and different motives. Consequently, we trust each other in subtly different and nuanced ways. Trust is as unique as the people who give and receive it.

Because imbalances exist in relationships, asymmetry can be accentuated. Employers and employees, for example, have much different forms of trust in each other. SMEs and laypeople have different knowledge and different skills. Consequently, their trust in each other is much different. A medical patient may have complete trust in a doctor’s skills and motivation, but that same doctor may have low confidence that the patient will follow a prescribed treatment regimen. Th e patient’s trust in the doctor is much different than the doctor’s trust in the patient.

In addition, trust is granted by the trustor; it can never be compelled by the other party. When trust is violated, it is typically violated in one direction. Trust is hard to gain but easy to lose. The asymmetries abound.

The importance of this imbalance for SMEs is the fact that you may not be trusted as much as you think you are. Just because you feel comfortable and trusted in a relationship does not mean that the other party feels the same way. They may not trust you, and they may not trust your colleagues. SMEs are in positions of power, which means there is a natural imbalance of knowledge and skill. As a result, experts often receive added scrutiny. Don’t automatically assume that people trust you. You may be completely trustworthy, but that does not mean you are completely trusted. Always recognize trust as the lopsided, asymmetrical emotion that it is.