DOI: 10.11118/ecos2026_007

TRUST BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS INSPIRED BY COVEY AND SINEK

Tereza Frömmelová¹, Kateřina Pojkarová²

¹ Prague University of Business and Economics, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, nám. W. Churchilla 1938/4, 130 67 Praha 3, Czech Republic

² University of Pardubice, Faculty of Transport Engineering, Studentská 95, 532 10 Pardubice 2, Czech Republic

This paper examines trust as described in the works of Simon Sinek and Stephen M. R. Covey, which together form the theoretical framework for this study. Their approaches view trust as a relational and value-based process that develops through consistent behavior, integrity, and psychological safety. Based on this theoretical framework, the authors of the paper conducted a questionnaire survey among university students in 2025. The study aimed to explore how young adults understand trust, how they apply it in personal and team relationships, and whether their views support or challenge the concepts proposed by Covey and Sinek. The findings show that students’ views on trust in teamwork reflect many elements of contemporary trust theory, particularly the emphasis on authenticity, reliability, and psychological safety. The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how theoretical models of trust are translated into lived experiences among young adults.

Klíčová slova: trust, interpersonal relationships, teamwork, survey research

stránky: 8-8, online: 2026