Rachel Botsman

You shouldn't be afraid to say no. Trust is often in those things we decide not to do or those things that we turn down. That's often where trust is earned, not the things that we continually do.

Right, yeah. I don't think anyone would also come to you and say, I don't trust you. Like we're not that direct. Well, I am direct, but most people are not that direct or open. And it's a real problem because what happens is, you know, that the way that sort of comes out in the first phase, people get very defensive. Like that's the first sign that people are not trusting you.

Right, yeah. I don't think anyone would also come to you and say, I don't trust you. Like we're not that direct. Well, I am direct, but most people are not that direct or open. And it's a real problem because what happens is, you know, that the way that sort of comes out in the first phase, people get very defensive. Like that's the first sign that people are not trusting you.

Right, yeah. I don't think anyone would also come to you and say, I don't trust you. Like we're not that direct. Well, I am direct, but most people are not that direct or open. And it's a real problem because what happens is, you know, that the way that sort of comes out in the first phase, people get very defensive. Like that's the first sign that people are not trusting you.

And then they start to disengage. Like these are the signals. Yeah. So it's, You know, in terms of creating this environment where people feel safe to take risks, to speak the truth, to speak up in a respectful way, it starts with modeling it yourself. I mean, it's such basic 101 advice that people miss. But social mimicry is what forms cultures.

And then they start to disengage. Like these are the signals. Yeah. So it's, You know, in terms of creating this environment where people feel safe to take risks, to speak the truth, to speak up in a respectful way, it starts with modeling it yourself. I mean, it's such basic 101 advice that people miss. But social mimicry is what forms cultures.

And then they start to disengage. Like these are the signals. Yeah. So it's, You know, in terms of creating this environment where people feel safe to take risks, to speak the truth, to speak up in a respectful way, it starts with modeling it yourself. I mean, it's such basic 101 advice that people miss. But social mimicry is what forms cultures.

So, you know, even asking leaders to track or get feedback on how many times they say, I don't know. Or do they even say those words, right? Like in a meeting, like how do they demonstrate humility? How do they demonstrate that they are taking a risk? In what ways do they signal their own vulnerability?

So, you know, even asking leaders to track or get feedback on how many times they say, I don't know. Or do they even say those words, right? Like in a meeting, like how do they demonstrate humility? How do they demonstrate that they are taking a risk? In what ways do they signal their own vulnerability?

So, you know, even asking leaders to track or get feedback on how many times they say, I don't know. Or do they even say those words, right? Like in a meeting, like how do they demonstrate humility? How do they demonstrate that they are taking a risk? In what ways do they signal their own vulnerability?

And again, this is where I think a lot of people think being vulnerable is talking about your personal life or talking about your kids or your pets or whatever it might be. But that's not really like true vulnerability in the workplace, right? It's like saying...

And again, this is where I think a lot of people think being vulnerable is talking about your personal life or talking about your kids or your pets or whatever it might be. But that's not really like true vulnerability in the workplace, right? It's like saying...

And again, this is where I think a lot of people think being vulnerable is talking about your personal life or talking about your kids or your pets or whatever it might be. But that's not really like true vulnerability in the workplace, right? It's like saying...

finding this like really hard or I'm actually quite frightened that I'm going to mess this up or for some reason feel really nervous about this. And I've done this many, many times before. So that's the emotional signaling that is creating that safe environment that you can say these things and there is going to be no, we're not going to see you as weak. There's not going to be any punishment.

finding this like really hard or I'm actually quite frightened that I'm going to mess this up or for some reason feel really nervous about this. And I've done this many, many times before. So that's the emotional signaling that is creating that safe environment that you can say these things and there is going to be no, we're not going to see you as weak. There's not going to be any punishment.

finding this like really hard or I'm actually quite frightened that I'm going to mess this up or for some reason feel really nervous about this. And I've done this many, many times before. So that's the emotional signaling that is creating that safe environment that you can say these things and there is going to be no, we're not going to see you as weak. There's not going to be any punishment.

There's not going to be any consequence. And then the stakes go up. So when someone makes a mistake, not like a minor mistake because there is to forgive, but they make a mistake. And in some way that mistake hurts your reputation or your company's reputation, loses a customer, loses you money. Like how do you handle those situations? Like they are the deep moments for trust.

There's not going to be any consequence. And then the stakes go up. So when someone makes a mistake, not like a minor mistake because there is to forgive, but they make a mistake. And in some way that mistake hurts your reputation or your company's reputation, loses a customer, loses you money. Like how do you handle those situations? Like they are the deep moments for trust.

There's not going to be any consequence. And then the stakes go up. So when someone makes a mistake, not like a minor mistake because there is to forgive, but they make a mistake. And in some way that mistake hurts your reputation or your company's reputation, loses a customer, loses you money. Like how do you handle those situations? Like they are the deep moments for trust.

Yeah, I mean, there's so much to talk about on this topic, but I think something that often gets missed is if you think about the pandemic and the move to remote hybrid working, we really became dependent on people like verbal signals.