"In practice, vulnerability-based trust is when you and I feel we can say something like 'I don't know' or 'I made a mistake' and know we will still be treated with respect and not feel embarrassed or worse."
"The quickest way to build trust is to go first: by sharing your own vulnerabilities, shortcomings, or failures. Trusted leaders quickly acknowledge when they need help and acknowledge their mistakes."
"Trust drops when leaders appear overly confident. According to Edelman's 2025 Trust Barometer, trust in business leaders declined in the U.S., particularly when leaders were perceived as withholding information or overpromising on emerging technologies like AI."
In 2025, only 48% of U.S. employees trusted their senior leaders, with 40% expressing distrust. Trust in AI is even lower, at 5%. Despite 78% of U.S. companies using AI, this has contributed to a trust recession. Building vulnerability-based trust is essential, where team members feel safe to express mistakes and uncertainties. Leaders should model this behavior by admitting their own vulnerabilities and mistakes. Transparency is crucial, as trust diminishes when leaders appear overly confident or withhold information.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]