Leading in Low-Trust Times

Overview The article examines the growing low-trust climate in tech companies, its impact on team morale and performance, and why authentic leadership is essential to rebuild confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Low trust leads to reduced collaboration, cynicism, and higher turnover.
• Silent or victim leadership deepens distrust.
• Listening, transparency, and co-creating direction are practical steps to restore trust.
• Authenticity and collaborative problem solving shift focus from scarcity to abundance.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers facing morale challenges.
• Technical leaders navigating layoffs or organizational change.
• Team leads looking to improve trust and engagement.
• New managers seeking authentic leadership practices.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Listening tours and unscripted Q&A sessions.
• Transparent communication and open honesty.
• Collaborative problem-solving frameworks.