Rebuilding Trust and Engaging Stakeholders
Trust is the currency of leadership—and when it’s lost, everything slows down. In Episode 75 of Talent Talk, I sat down with Victor Morales to explore how leaders can rebuild trust and re-engage stakeholders in moments of tension, change, or disconnection.
🎧 Catch the full episode on Spotify:Talent Talk – Episode 75
Why Trust Breaks Down
Trust doesn’t erode overnight. It usually breaks down slowly—through misalignment, inconsistency, or silence. I see this happen in leadership teams when:
Promises aren’t kept
Communication lacks transparency
People don’t feel seen, heard, or valued
Victor said:
"Trust erodes in the cracks we ignore."
That resonated. Because when leaders get busy or uncomfortable, they often retreat from the very conversations that would rebuild trust. We fall into silence or default to polished messaging—and miss the chance to re-establish connection.
Stakeholder Trust = Strategic Momentum
When stakeholders trust your leadership, they:
Get on board faster
Navigate complexity with you
Advocate for the change rather than resist it
And stakeholders aren’t just senior execs or clients. They include your team, your community, your partners—anyone impacted by your decisions.
If trust is low, engagement drops. If trust is strong, people lean in—even when the road ahead is bumpy.
I’ve seen trust act as an accelerant. When it’s there, feedback flows, collaboration thrives, and challenges are met with shared energy—not hesitation.
Rebuilding Trust Starts With These Questions
When I coach leaders through trust recovery, I ask:
Where might we have overpromised or under delivered?
What assumptions are we making about what people understand?
Where can we replace messaging with meaningful dialogue?
Victor and I both agree: rebuilding trust isn’t about a grand gesture. It’s about small, consistent actions that say, "You matter. I’m listening. We’re in this together."
Sometimes trust is rebuilt one question, one conversation, one transparent moment at a time.
Practical Ways to Rebuild Trust
1. Own the Miss
Start by acknowledging where things went wrong. Say it plainly. Accountability rebuilds credibility. Pretending nothing happened only creates distance.
2. Communicate Often and Honestly
Even if you don’t have all the answers, say so. Clarity builds confidence. Silence breeds speculation. Consistent, honest updates remind people that you’re committed to transparency.
3. Listen Without Defensiveness
Create space for feedback. When people see their input influencing outcomes, trust grows. Active listening—without rushing to fix—signals respect.
4. Follow Through Publicly
Let people see the progress. Visibility matters. When commitments are acted on visibly, people feel safer and more engaged.
5. Reconnect to Shared Purpose
Remind people what unites you. Trust deepens when people feel they’re part of something meaningful, not just being managed through change.
A Real Example
I worked with a leadership team after a failed merger. Employee trust was at an all-time low. Instead of launching an engagement campaign, they invited team members to share what trust felt like to them. The responses became a new set of team agreements—and slowly, trust returned.
Victor shared similar stories. What they had in common was this: trust wasn’t demanded. It was earned, through attention, humility, and follow-through.
In another case, a global company recovering from layoffs chose to create a space where team members could anonymously share their experience and fears. Leaders read each comment—and then responded, visibly and personally. That act of acknowledgment didn’t fix everything—but it cracked the door open again.
Final Thoughts
Rebuilding trust takes time—but it’s time well spent. When you move from messaging to meaning, from telling to listening, trust becomes a shared space again.
"You can’t lead people you don’t trust—and who don’t trust you."
If trust has slipped, don’t panic. Start where you are. Own the gap. And take the next best step, together.
Rebuilding trust isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
Go Deeper with Talent Talk
This blog is part of a 5-part series based on Episode 75 of Talent Talk with Victor Morales. Listen to the full episode on Spotify to explore trust-building and stakeholder alignment in leadership.
📣 Want to strengthen trust in your leadership culture? Visit The Career Establishment to learn about coaching programmes that help leaders reconnect with their people and rebuild credibility.