The ‘competence’ component means that if you say you will do something, you have the ability, skills, resources, experience, etc. to make the outcome happen. This gives us reason to believe your [implied] promise.

But that’s not enough. The other crucial component is ‘benevolence’ or a general predisposition to do well by me. That means you will not take advantage of me – even if I’m not in a position to know it or to stop you. You’ve got my back, as the saying goes.

It’s the combination of these two dimensions that must be present before we can legitimately use the word ‘trust’.