Building TRUST in 2025 What Top Leaders Wish They Knew - Charles Feltman

Feb 3, 2025

42:54

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Ryan Hanley talks with Charles Feltman, author of The Thin Book of Trust, a business classic that has sold over 100,000 copies. They dive into what it takes to build trust in leadership and teams, exploring why there’s often a disconnect between leaders and employees. Charles shares practical advice on transparency, the importance of psychological safety, and how admitting “I don’t know” can strengthen trust. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this conversation is packed with insights to help you build stronger, more effective teams.

🎯 Takeaways:

93% of business executives agree that building and maintaining trust improves the bottom line.
86% of executives say they highly trust their employees, but only 60% of employees feel highly trusted.
Leaders become less transparent and more autocratic as they ascend, which can erode trust.

💬 Sound Bites: • "Leaders often act as if they know everything, even when they don’t. This damages trust." • "Acknowledging uncertainty and involving your team fosters stronger solutions and trust." • "Leaders should be in service of their team, not just the task."

🔗 Connect and Discover:

Website: https://insightcoaching.com/

Book: https://amzn.to/4hfzD4e

📖 Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and The Role of Leaders in Trust Building

00:03:12 - The Trust Gap: 86% vs. 60%

00:05:07 - Why Leaders Lose Transparency

00:07:33 - The Strength of Admitting “I Don’t Know”

00:10:52 - Autocratic vs. Collaborative Leadership

00:13:25 - The Importance of Disagreement in Teams

00:18:32 - Psychological Safety and Framing Ideas

00:26:54 - In Service Of: Redefining Leadership