How workplace silence kills trust

Trust on Purpose

Trust on Purpose
How workplace silence kills trust
Feb 17, 2025
Charles Feltman and Ila Edgar

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What happens when you pour your heart into work only to be met with silence? Or have you ever felt the sting of being ignored after applying, and even interviewing, for a job? You’re not alone. In a new episode of Trust on Purpose, we unravel the silent killer of workplace trust - ghosting.

The frustrating reality of unacknowledged contributions almost always erodes trust. From candidates experiencing profound disappointment and companies unknowingly tarnishing their reputations, to employees becoming disengaged and resentful, we shine a light on the critical importance of closure and honest communication.

Drawing on our own experiences and Brene Brown's principle that "clear is kind," we discuss how a lack of transparency and acknowledgment can leave people feeling undervalued and relationships strained. The key to transforming your professional interactions? A small shift in awareness.

We want to thank the team that continues to support us in producing, editing and sharing our work. Jonah Smith for the heartfelt intro music you hear at the beginning of each podcast. We LOVE it. Hillary Rideout for writing descriptions, designing covers and helping us share our work on social media. Chad Penner for his superpower editing work to take our recordings from bumpy and glitchy to smooth and easy to listen to episodes for you to enjoy. From our hearts, we are so thankful for this team and the support they provide us.