How Leaders Connect: Build Workplace Relationships - Step #3
Why being the real you is the secret to building trust — and how one leader proved it under pressure.
“Trust is built when someone is vulnerable and not taken advantage of.”
The Moment Everything Changed
Leslie didn’t expect the phone call.📱
Not that morning. Not like that. Not from her current manager.
“Leslie,” he said, his voice clipped, “I just got off the phone with one of our competitors. Their new VP just told me you’re joining their team. Is there something you need to tell me?”
Her stomach dropped.🤢
She wasn’t one to hide things — ever. Leslie was known for being rock-solid: reliable, compassionate, and honest to a fault. But between wrapping up key projects and preparing for interviews, she hadn’t yet had the conversation she knew was necessary. And now… it had found her first.
Develop The Valuable Leader in You!
If you’re tired of being overlooked, underpaid, and unsure of your next move, this course is for you.
Meet Leslie — The Real Deal
If you worked with Leslie, you knew what you were getting. A leader who always showed up. Someone who stayed late when the team needed her. The person who’d remember your kid’s science fair and follow up the next day. Leslie was dependable, direct, and warm — a rare mix.
Her success hadn’t come from showmanship, but from quiet, consistent authenticity. People followed her because they trusted her. Because she meant what she said.
So when she decided to make a career change — moving into a bigger company with broader impact — it wasn’t a decision she took lightly. She wasn’t running away. She was moving toward something that would stretch her. Challenge her. Grow her.🪴
She just hadn’t gotten to tell her boss yet. And now… that truth had beaten her to the punch.
When Authenticity Gets Put to the Test
That afternoon, Leslie came into our coaching session looking rattled. “I feel like I betrayed someone,” she said. “That’s not who I am. I wanted to tell him. I just… didn’t yet.”
I asked her the same question I ask most leaders in hard moments: “What part of you do you want him to see right now?”
She paused. “The part that owns it. That doesn’t make excuses. The part that still believes in doing things right.”
📍So we mapped out what she’d say. Not a perfect script — just her truth. Calm, clear, sincere. The way she always was when things really mattered.
The Conversation That Repaired Trust
Leslie met with her manager the next day. She didn’t deflect. She didn’t downplay. She looked him in the eye and said:
“I should have told you myself, and I’m sorry you had to hear it from someone else. This decision wasn’t made in haste or secrecy. I’ve been reflecting for months, and I’m ready for new challenges in a space that pushes me to grow. It’s not about leaving you or the team — it’s about stepping into what’s next. I hope you can understand that.”
He paused. Then nodded.
“You’ve always been honest with me, Leslie. I trust that this is the right move for you. I just wish I’d heard it from you first.”
“I do too,” she said.
They left that meeting on solid ground. Because she showed up — not polished, but present. Not perfect, but honest.😊
Fix the Friction. Fuel the Culture.
You can turn team tension into trust. Empower your leaders—
📞 Schedule your free leadership training consult today.
Leadership Lesson: Be Consistently Authentic
Leslie’s story is more than a career tale — it’s a relational roadmap. She teaches us that the strongest relationships aren’t built in perfect conditions. They’re built in the moments we risk being real. When we say what needs to be said. When we own our impact. When we choose sincerity over spin.
In her work together, Leslie often came back to one belief:
“If I’m not real, I’m replaceable.”
She wasn’t. And she isn’t. Because the real Leslie — consistently authentic — is the kind of leader people remember, respect, and follow.
Lead with ConsisteAuthenticity
Walk into the room and own it - without staying a word.
Your “big” Takeaway
Step 3👣 is this: 👉 Be consistently authentic …because sincerity is felt before it’s heard.
If you want stronger workplace relationships, don’t just be impressive. Be real. Because connection isn’t built on image. It’s built on truth.. 😊
❤️ Love this content?
When you Buy Me a Coffee, every sip helps me keep creating content you love! Hit👇here, and let’s brew up more magic together!🎁
Ready to Build a Team That Communicates with Courage and Heart?
Whether you’re a leader looking to improve your own connection skills or an HR professional trying to turn a fragmented team into a powerhouse of trust and performance…
📢 My training workshops are built to spark connection and drive results.
Your people want to feel valued. Your culture wants to thrive. And your ROI? It’s waiting. Let’s make it happen.
I’m cheering 📣 for you!
P.S. 👉 Schedule a discovery call today and bring this training to your organization.