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

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 📌 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡: Website: https://go.ryanhanley.com/ Course Page: https://masteroftheclose.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ryan-hanley-show/id1480262657 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AZFuTiQsgS9hMQDDdtlOr?si=98432b7806534486 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_hanley -- Recommended Tools for Growth OpusClip: #1 AI video clipping and editing tool: https://link.ryanhanley.com/opus Riverside: HD Podcast & Video Software | Free Recording & Editing: https://link.ryanhanley.com/riverside WhisperFlow: Never waste time typing on your keyboard again: https://link.ryanhanley.com/whisperflow CaptionsApp: One app for all your social media video creation: https://link.ryanhanley.com/captionsapp GoHighLevel: It's time to take your business workflow to the Next Level: https://link.ryanhanley.com/gohighlevel Perspective.co: The #1 funnel builder for lead generation: https://link.ryanhanley.com/perspective -- Episodes You Might Enjoy: From $2 Million Loss to World-Class Entrepreneur: https://lnk.to/delk From One Man Shop to $200M in Revenue: https://lnk.to/tommymello Is Psilocybin the Gateway to Self-Mastery? https://lnk.to/80upZ9 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. This show is part of the Unplugged Studios Network — the infrastructure layer for serious creators. 👉 Learn more at https://unpluggedstudios.fm.