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How to Build Trust When You Are the New Person
Description
Episode 20 of The Office Politics Podcast: Lucas and Luna delve into the challenge of building trust when you're the new person in an organization. They discuss the reality that new hires start with a trust deficit, regardless of their experience. Lucas explains the 'trust bank' concept and the need to make small, consistent deposits through reliability and integrity. He cites research from MIT's Sandy Pentland on pattern-matching trust signals. The conversation covers the pitfalls of overpromising and the importance of asking for small tasks first. Luna shares insights from a peer review study at a tech firm showing that new hires who asked for and completed small tasks were trusted 40% faster than those who tried to prove themselves through grand gestures. They also address how to recover trust after a mistake, emphasizing transparency and owning the fix. The episode closes with a reflection on trust as an ongoing investment, not a checklist.