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

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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


00:28:26 - Navigating Layers of Management to Build Trust


00:32:06 - Finding the Right Level of Transparency


00:39:18 - The Evolution of “The Thin Book of Trust”


00:41:42 - Where to Learn More


 


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This show is part of the Unplugged Studios Network — the
infrastructure layer for serious creators. Learn more at
https://unpluggedstudios.fm.

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