Know First, Trust Later: The Japanese Teamwork Principle of “Koumeiseidai”

Among colleagues at the workplace, few values are seen as more important than trust. Mutual trust is the emulsifier that helps team members connect, the yeast that allows teams to rise, the special sauce that gives each team its unique flavor. Culinary metaphors aside, trust is touted by many respectable leaders as a sine qua non for truly effective teamwork.