The Code of Trust

An American Counterintelligence Expert's Five Rules to Lead and Succeed

By: Robin Dreeke, Cameron Stauth, Joe Navarro - foreword

Narrated by: Robin Dreeke

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the author with a forward read by Joe Navarro.

The former director of the FBI's behavioral analysis division shows listeners how to use trust to achieve anything in business and in life.

Robin Dreeke is a 28-year veteran of federal service, including the United States Naval Academy, United States Marine Corps. He served most recently as a senior agent in the FBI, with 20 years of experience. He was, until recently, the head of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, where his primary mission was to thwart the efforts of foreign spies, and to recruit American spies. His core approach in this mission was to inspire reasonable, well-founded trust among people who could provide valuable information.

The Code of Trust is based on the system Dreeke devised, tested, and implemented during years of field work at the highest levels of national security. Applying his system first to himself, he rose up through federal law enforcement, and then taught his system to law enforcement and military officials throughout the country, and later to private sector clients. The Code of Trust has since elevated executives to leadership, and changed the culture of entire companies, making them happier and more productive, as morale soared.

Inspiring trust is not a trick, nor is it an arcane art. It’s an important, character-building endeavor that requires only a sincere desire to be helpful and sensitive, and the ambition to be more successful at work and at home. The Code of Trust is based on 5 simple principles:

1) Suspend Your Ego
2) Be Nonjudgmental
3) Honor Reason
4) Validate Others
5) Be Generous

To be successful with this system, a listener needs only the willingness to spend eight to ten hours learning a method of trust-building that took Robin Dreeke almost a lifetime to create.

©2017 Robin Dreeke and Cameron Stauth. Foreword © 2017 by Joe Navarro (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"As someone who has spent my career in the public and private intelligence fields, I feel this work provides great insights into the social psychological aspects of interpersonal dynamics from someone who has spent a lot of time in analyzing the criminal mind. A great insight for anyone with an interest in social psychology and how it impacts interpersonal relationships." —Phil Houston, CEO QVerity, 26 year veteran of CIA and co-author of the New York Times bestsellers Spy The Lie and Get The Truth

"To paraphrase Charles Dickens, it is the best of times, the worst of times, the age of wisdom, the age of foolishness, the spring of hope, the winter of despair. The Code of Trust is an antidote to the cynicism and fear of today. Robin Dreeke, my friend and colleague from the FBI, will take you on a delightful journey -- his journey--to more effective leadership at a time when we ache for such genuine skills in others." —Reid Meloy Ph.D., forensic psychologist, author, and consultant to The FBI

"The foundation of leadership is trust. Robin shares his successful and, sometimes, unsuccessful experiences as a United States Marine Corps officer and as a FBI behavioral analyst that allowed him to crack the code to build trusting relationships. This book is a must read for leaders and those who aspire to lead." —Jack Schafer, author of The Like Switch

Code of Trust = Code of people

What did you love best about The Code of Trust?

Extremely obvious fundamental truths about people. When I think about Yoda or Obi-one they used the simple techniques of the code of trust. The five rules are about how you control yourself to make the interaction about the other person. The four rules of engagement are about making people comfortable. I am currently interview for a new career, which is very stressful, and at the end of day people make their decision in the first 1-2 minutes if you are a good fit. A good fit is simple "I trust you". In a non-manipulate manner the interview is about the hiring manager answering one simple question "does the candidate help them achieve their end goals and means goals?" Thanks Robin for helping me eliminate the stress to land the career of my dreams!

Great breakdown of the mechanics

Simple, straight to the point and logical. Really enjoy the fact that the author is the speaker. It makes it feel genuine.

Amazing Stuff!

This book is full of great ideas.

The author is extremely authentic and humble.

It is also amazing in the sense of seeing the world through the eyes of a successful FBI agent.

step by step guide to trust

very actionable book, experience of the author warrants credibility, some chapters seem like an instruction manuel

Excellent advice with practical implementation

Well done, allows the listener to be self reflective for practical course correction. Provides a system to build better trust and relationships through understanding others and yourself better.

Outstanding insight!

Robin does a great job providing details on how to improve trust in your organization but also on how to avoid becoming collateral damage to toxic people. But I would’ve like to have seen advice on how to recognize a toxic organization earlier & how to get out of one with recoverable damage.

solid for any organizational leadership program

a great book for any leadership group starting business or anybody who just wants to be a better leader and their home or workplace. the things that Robin brings up need probably further flushing out but it's a great primer to start thinking about trust as the ultimate currency. and how to start correcting your own bad Behaviour and just become more trustworthy in general.

Amazing insights, usable method

This book can absolutely change aspects of your life if you adopt any of the methods inside. Easy listen, great story and easily followed.

The Code of Trust

What a great book from a great guy. Down to earth and humble, Robin is a man of many experiences and with those experiences he made this book. The tips are realistic. There is no magic here. Robin is simply saying the truth; To earn trust simply be a good person.

Good Content Poorly Read

This book would likely have been more enjoyable if I had read it more instead of listened to it. The author stuttered and mispronounced so many words it made me worry that he has suffered a TBI. I mean that seriously, and not as some callous attempt at humor. He seems to read at the level of a middle schooler who is seeing the material for the first time.

The content isn’t anything revolutionary, but still worthwhile. As mentioned, I would recommend this as a book but it may be hard for some to get through with the stilted narration of the audiobook.