Leonardo Freixas Defines Trust as ‘Truth Speed’ Under Pressure

In a recent LinkedIn post, Leonardo Freixas explores a critical, often misunderstood, element of team dynamics: trust. Freixas reframes the conventional understanding of trust, moving beyond mere familiarity to define it as the speed at which truth can travel within a team when faced with pressure. This concept, which he terms ‘truth speed,’ offers a powerful lens through which to evaluate team resilience and effectiveness.

The Cost of Suppressed Truth

Freixas highlights the detrimental effects of allowing pressure to go unaddressed within a team. He observes that in weaker teams, issues often become ‘private.’ This manifests in subtle yet significant ways, such as a ‘quieter teammate,’ a ‘delayed response,’ or a ‘frustrated tone no one names.’ According to Freixas, the real damage occurs long before these signs become overtly visible.

“By the time the damage is visible, the real failure already happened. The cost of honesty got too high.”

This dynamic, Freixas argues, leads to a situation where individuals begin to perform ‘fine’ rather than openly naming the strain they are under. This culture of silence, he suggests, erodes the foundation of a team, making it brittle when faced with adversity.

‘Truth Speed’ as a Measure of Strong Teams

In contrast, Freixas describes strong teams as those that ‘look calm’ precisely because pressure is ‘redistributed early.’ This proactive approach allows for problems to surface and be addressed before they escalate into interpersonal politics or lead to burnout. As Leonardo Freixas notes, in such environments, ‘Problems surface before politics. Truth arrives before consequences force it.’

The Proactive Nature of Trust

Freixas emphasizes that the core function of trust, as he defines it, is to facilitate this rapid and open communication under duress. He posits that a team’s strength is directly correlated with its ‘truth speed under pressure.’ This means that the ability to quickly and honestly communicate challenges, concerns, and potential issues is paramount to sustained performance and well-being.

“A team is only as strong as its truth speed under pressure.”

The implication of Freixas’s analysis is that building genuine trust is not about fostering superficial closeness but about cultivating an environment where honesty and open communication are the norm, especially when the stakes are high. He concludes with a stark observation:

“Everything after silence is damage control.”

Freixas’s insights offer a compelling framework for leaders aiming to build truly resilient and high-performing teams, underscoring the vital role of open, rapid communication in navigating the inevitable pressures of business.