Research on Trust and Transparent Communication

This week, while digging into a few CEO communications projects, I came across some academic research on the topic that’s definitely worth a look. Rita Men and colleagues looked at CEO communication during disruptive crises and found: • In times of uncertainty, CEO communication profoundly influences employees’ trust in the organization and their psychological well-being   • When CEOs communicate with transparency, authenticity, optimism, and empathy (TAEO) during a crisis, employees report higher levels of organizational trust, reduced feelings of uncertainty and greater psychological well-being.    • By actively seeking feedback, being forthright about challenges, and responding promptly to inquiries, CEOs create an environment where employees feel informed and valued. As communicators, we know this intuitively, but it’s powerful to have research that helps us guide leaders on how to show up during difficult moments. The study was published in the International Journal of Business Communication. Link to a summary in the comments. I'd love to hear what resonates with your experience.

#Transparency in Real-World Evidence (#RWE) studies is essential for fostering trust in research and facilitating informed decision-making. Although international organizations provide guidance on the transparency of #clinical_trials, the secondary use of health data is still developing a robust infrastructure. Recently, repositories such as OpenSafely and the European Health Data Space have started providing health data to researchers. This review assesses these repositories through both quantitative and qualitative analysis. In addition, #ISPOR recently published this report on Improving Transparency to Build Trust in Real-World Secondary Data Studies for Hypothesis Testing https://lnkd.in/ezht937B . This ISPOR report provides Recommendations and a Road Map from the Real-World Evidence Transparency Initiative. Source: van den Akker OR, Thibault RT, Ioannidis JPA, Schorr SG, Strech D. 2025 Transparency in the secondary use of health data: assessing the status quo of guidance and best practices. R. Soc. Open Sci. 12: 241364. https://lnkd.in/eg-Xnth8

https://lnkd.in/e6mUg29b Deep Dive Podcast: How to Enhance Transparency and Replicability in Qualitative Research Qualitative research thrives on trust and rigor. Here’s how we can make it more transparent and replicable. 1️⃣ Transparency is Foundational: A study found that none of 52 qualitative studies using elite informant interviews provided enough transparency for full replication. By adhering to clear documentation standards, researchers can enhance the trustworthiness and impact of their work. 2️⃣ Define the Research Setting Clearly: Only 25% of studies adequately described the context of their research, yet this is critical for replication and interpretation. Detailed information on cultural, economic, or organizational conditions ensures that findings are properly understood and reproducible. 3️⃣ Address Power Imbalances Explicitly: Power dynamics between researchers and participants can influence data collection and analysis. Reporting how these imbalances were managed increases the credibility of findings and allows others to adopt similar strategies. 4️⃣ Emphasize Data Coding and Analysis: Only 6% of studies provided sufficient detail on their coding methods and analysis processes. Clear methodologies and shared coding frameworks strengthen replication potential and the application of findings. 5️⃣ Promote Open Data Practices: Few studies disclosed raw materials like interview transcripts, limiting the ability to verify and build on results. Open data policies improve replicability, encourage collaboration, and bolster confidence in research outputs.   Get open-access article: Aguinis, H., & Solarino, A. M. 2019. Transparency and replicability in qualitative research: The case of interviews with elite informants. Strategic Management Journal, 40(8): 1291-1315. https://lnkd.in/e7bfDuQ Academy of International Business (AIB) Academy of International Business MENA The Strategic Management Society HR Division - Academy of Management Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Africa Academy of Management ANPAD ACEDE (Spanish Academy of Management) British Academy of Management Eastern Academy of Management AOM ENT Division EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT EGOS (European Group for Organizational Studies) GW Business Alumni Ellen Granberg Christopher Bracey Iberoamerican Academy of Management INDAM - Indian Academy of Management International Association for Chinese Management Research Management Faculty of Color Association (MFCA) AOM Organizational Behavior Division Società Italiana di Management The George Washington University The George Washington University School of Business The PhD Project Western Academy of Management (Official Site) Yönetim Akademisi Derneği - Turkish Academy of Management

🔓 From Trust Crisis to Trust Building: The Foundation of Transparent Communication 🔓 🌟 Why Transparency Matters Great leaders don't just announce decisions—they share the story behind them. When I was a police sergeant, I learned that telling my team "We're changing patrol routes" created confusion and resistance. 😤 But explaining "Crime patterns shifted east, response times increased by 3 minutes, so we're adjusting routes to better serve the community" built understanding and buy-in. ✅ 💫 The Vulnerability Factor Transparent communication requires leaders to be vulnerable. Admitting uncertainty, acknowledging mistakes, and sharing constraints creates psychological safety. 🛡️ When leaders say "I don't have all the answers," they give permission for others to contribute solutions. 🤝 ⚡ In Practice Replace "This is how we're doing it" with "Here's what we're facing, here's my thinking, and here's how your input will shape our approach." This shift transforms followers into partners and builds trust through inclusion rather than exclusion. 🌱 📊 The Research Connection Kelloway et al. (2012) found that clear communication from leadership directly correlated with increased trust and psychological well-being. Transparency isn't just nice to have—it's measurable competitive advantage. 📈 🏆 Trust: The Superpower of Leadership starts with transparency. When leaders share context, reasoning, and even their uncertainties, they create environments where innovation thrives. ✨ 💪 I help organizations transform trust into high-performance through the BELIEVE Framework program. Reach out to me if you need to Lead Boldly, Build Boldly, Grow Boldly. I am here to help. 🚀 📚 Reference: Kelloway, E. K., Turner, N., Barling, J., & Loughlin, C. (2012). Transformational leadership and employee psychological well-being: The mediating role of employee trust in leadership. Work & Stress, 26(1), 39-55. #TransparentLeadership #TrustBuilding #BELIEVE #LeadershipDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety #TrueBoldness