By Dr. Richard Fursman, Ed.D. – HueLife Co-Founder & Leadership Facilitator
Trust, however earned, is still the holy grail of effectiveness. With trust comes the ability to cooperate, and through cooperation comes the greatest returns for all stakeholders. Teams thrive, communities stabilize, and leadership gains true legitimacy.
Trust does not emerge by accident; it’s a deliberative process. Imagine trust as two pillars holding in balance, Character, and Competence. These two domains anchor all trustworthy behavior and can guide professionals in cultivating a culture of confidence and respect.
Character, the first pillar, encompasses intent and integrity. Intent is demonstrated through caring, transparency, and openness, while integrity is shown through honesty, fairness, and authenticity. People do not trust those whose motives are unclear or whose values seem compromised. Character is revealed through consistent alignment between words and actions.
Competence, the second pillar, is about capability and results. Capability is revealed in your skills, knowledge, and experience. Results are demonstrated with performance, which builds credibility and reputation. No matter how good someone’s intentions may be, trust will erode if they cannot deliver results or follow through on commitments.
Trust needs the right soil for the seeds to take root. The best soil for trust is familiarity. The more frequently people interact with one another, be it between neighbors, colleagues, or public officials, the more opportunities they have to experience both character and competence in action. These small, repeated exchanges lay the groundwork for meaningful trust.
Dialogue also plays a critical role. Frequent, honest conversations build mutual understanding. Inclusion in decision-making processes creates ownership and leads to outcomes that feel just and legitimate. Trust is not built on grand gestures but on promises kept and procedures that deliver.
Ultimately, trust building is a slow, iterative process. For it to be lasting and widespread, it must be more than a leadership tactic, it must be embedded into the very fabric of organizational and societal culture. Trust must become habitual, expected, and a systemic collective value lived out through daily interactions.
Do you have a meeting, workshop, or event coming up that you are facilitating and need advice on? Would you have won a gold medal for your amazing facilitation and think others could benefit from learning what you did?
Our FREE monthly Community of Practice is the perfect space to learn, share, and grow together! It’s kind of like free professional development. You don’t have to be a formal facilitator – if you are convening groups, leading meetings, or implementing projects and plans, this is a valuable time to get advice, give advice, and learn from members of the HueLife community. After all, HUE is all about human understanding and engagement!
📅 When: Every fourth Wednesday of the month* from 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT
🌍 Where: Online via Zoom
* Exception: In July and December when we will not host our traditional virtual Community of Practice. Instead, we will host special hybrid events based in Minneapolis where you will have an opportunity to learn and network in person!
Bring your real-world challenges and questions—whether they’re broad (“How do I improve my facilitation skills?”) or specific (“I’m facilitating ____ and need advice on using ____ method.”)—and gain insights from a community eager to support and learn from one another.
Even if you’re just curious about facilitation, you’re welcome to join!
We look forward to seeing you in the Zoom room!
Natalia Etten is leading change in Ukraine through education. As CEO of Teaching for Ukraine, she works to bring high-quality teachers to underserved schools, creating opportunities for thousands of young people despite the challenges of war.
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