Notes from Paris: What actually builds trust
Early one morning this week I was on the bus, heading to my English lessons. I was head down in my phone, messaging friends. One hadn’t known I was here in Paris so I looked up and snapped a quick picture as proof of location - the pic I’ll include below. Turns out, it’s a fabulous photo! (Well, in my opinion, anyway.)
I was then a bit aghast at how quickly I had come to take this commute a little bit for granted. So very blasé that I chose to scroll on my phone rather than soak up all the beautiful scenes of daily Parisian life. We really can be take-it-for-granted machines.
What’s beautiful/fabulous/amazing around you that you might not be noticing?
From now until I return from sabbatical on the 7th April, I wanted to continue sharing the ideas that clients most often return to - the ones that spark reflection, shift perspective, and help make work a little more human.
What can you actually *do* to build trust as a leader?
In 2025, I wrote about the shift from being a trusted advisor to being a trusted leader. It is a move many senior professionals face, particularly in law and other expert-driven fields.
It’s one thing to understand the concept, but it’s another thing entirely to know what to actually do. A lot of leaders work harder on the credibility part of the trust equation, doubling down on showing everyone how much they know. Ironically, this can actually *undermine* trust!
Until next week, au revoir
Madeleine
PS I’m back on deck from 7 April. If you’d like to book in coaching or a workshop ready for then, simply email Nicole here or phone her on (02) 8005 1604.
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