3. The Key Ingredients of Trustworthy Communication

1. Clarity

• Be clear, not clever.

• Define expectations, roles, and goals.

Confusion creates anxiety. Clarity builds confidence.

 

2. Consistency

• Reinforce key messages over time.

• Don’t contradict yourself across contexts.

• Be dependable in tone and action.

3. Vulnerability

• Admit what you don’t know.

• Own up to mistakes.

• Share your human side appropriately.

“People don’t trust perfect leaders—they trust real ones.”

 

4. Listening

• Listen to understand, not just to reply.

• Show people their voice matters.

• Summarize what you hear to ensure clarity.

5. Transparency

• Share the “why” behind decisions, not just the “what.”

• If you can’t share everything, explain why.

4. Communication That Builds Psychological Safety

To lead teams that speak up, contribute, and innovate, your communication needs to create a sense of psychological safety—where people feel safe to:

• Ask questions

• Admit mistakes

• Offer dissenting views

• Share concerns without fear

How to do this:

• Normalize learning and growth over perfection

• Respond to bad news calmly

• Thank people for their honesty—even when it’s uncomfortable

• Admit when you don’t have all the answers

Trust grows in the space between what’s said—and how it’s received.

 

Quick Activity: Self-Check as a Trust-Builder

Ask yourself:

• Do I listen more than I speak?

• Do I explain why decisions are made?

• Do I admit when I’m wrong or uncertain?

• Do I speak the same way to senior leaders and frontline staff?

• Do people feel safe bringing me concerns?

Choose one area to improve this week—and commit to a small, visible behavior shift.

5. Final Thought

Your words as a leader carry weight—far more than you realize.
Used wisely, they don’t just deliver instructions. They build a culture.

 

In the long run, people don’t just follow plans—they follow people they trust.