Strategies to Identify Misplaced Trust

Do🤝 Not Every Handshaker Is a Friend: The Risk of Misplaced Trust in Business Trust is a currency in business—but just like money, it can be counterfeit. This image is a powerful reminder: Appearances deceive. A firm handshake may mask a silent threat. In the world of governance, risk, and compliance, misplaced trust can result in catastrophic losses—financial, reputational, even strategic. Here’s what finance and risk professionals must keep in mind: ⸻ 🐍 1. Due Diligence Over Charm Not every confident partner, vendor, or consultant is who they seem. Trust must be earned through facts, not gestures. 📌 Example: A supplier with a polished pitch but hidden financial instability may compromise your supply chain and service delivery. ⸻ 🔍 2. Verify, Then Trust As Ronald Reagan famously said: “Trust, but verify.” Always conduct background checks, audit reviews, legal screenings, and financial health checks. 📌 Tip: Implement third-party risk assessments and continuous monitoring. ⸻ 🧠 3. Internal Betrayal Is Real Some of the biggest frauds in corporate history stemmed from insiders—employees who were trusted for years. 📌 Example: Rogue traders or misreporting finance staff with unchecked access and weak oversight. ⸻ ⚖️ 4. Separate Roles and Monitor Behavior Even friendly relationships must be subject to controls. Use segregation of duties, limit system access, and audit trails. 📌 Tip: Rotate staff roles in sensitive departments like treasury, procurement, or accounting. ⸻ 🛡️ 5. Cultivate a Healthy Risk Culture Train your team to spot red flags, speak up, and understand that skepticism is not cynicism—it’s protection. 📌 Quote: “Risk-aware doesn’t mean risk-averse. It means alert.” ⸻ ✅ Takeaway In a world of complex relationships, your defense lies not in assuming goodwill—but in structuring for safety. The handshake is only as safe as the risk controls behind it. ⸻ 🔖 #RiskManagement #CorporateGovernance #DueDiligence #ThirdPartyRisk #FraudPrevention #OperationalRisk #Leadership #Compliance #InternalControls #RiskCulture #TrustButVerify #GRC #RedFlags

Be careful who you trust. Sugar and salt look the same. The cost of misplaced trust? → A startup founder loses everything when their "visionary" co-founder vanishes with company assets → A seasoned exec gets blindsided by a mentee they advocated for, who just orchestrated their replacement (!) → A family office loses $50M when a trusted nephew's "guaranteed" investment turns out to be an elaborate Ponzi scheme → A leader's reputation gets shattered by confidential information leaked by a "trusted" colleague Here's what psychology & neuroscience reveal about trustworthiness (beyond my usual "ALWAYS trust your gut" advice): 𝟴 𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀: 1. Watch for micro-expressions during surprise. Studies show genuine surprise lasts 0.5-4 seconds. Anything longer? Likely performative. 2. Notice their follow-through on small details People who regularly "forget" minor commitments (returning calls, sending promised resources) have a 70% higher likelihood of major accountability issues. 3. Study how they talk about others' success Research shows those who can *genuinely celebrate others have higher empathy & lower dark triad traits. (Know the difference when that smile is fake and through gritted teeth, listen to the tone of voice - it says everything). 4. Observe their behavior under MINOR stress The coffee spill test: Their reaction to small inconveniences reveals more than their pitch deck. 5. Track their consistency across contexts Harvard research: Truly trustworthy people maintain the same core values whether talking to the CEO or the custodian. 6. Notice their relationship with mistakes The most reliable predictor? How quickly they own their errors vs how creatively they explain them away. When someone starts dancing through a straight answer with me and falling over their words - I know they are full of sh*t. (I just let them dance in it). I ask a few questions, let them continue to dance. Listen to every word said. Analyze. 7. Monitor their information sharing patterns Trustworthy people respect boundaries - they don't trade others' stories for social currency. 8. Pay attention to their promises vs patterns Psychology shows past behavior predicts future behavior 80% more accurately than promises. Trust isn't about eliminating risk - It's about making calculated decisions with clear eyes. The most expensive real estate isn't in Manhattan or Miami. It's the space you give people in your inner circle. Choose wisely. ***** ➕Follow Dawn Marie La Monica, JD for more evidence-based insights on leadership, legacy & psychology ♻️Share if this helped you think differently about trust 🤓Curious about this cat? check out the Featured section of my profile for how I help family offices & corporates

Have you ever had that sinking feeling when you realized someone you trusted was actually collecting information to use against you later? I learned the hard way that private conversations I'd had with a "supportive" colleague somehow made their way to my manager, carefully reframed to make me look incompetent. After decades in leadership and executive recruiting, I've learned to spot the patterns of master manipulators. But here's what matters most, you can protect yourself without becoming cynical or closed off to genuine connection. In this week's video, I share the three essential strategies for identifying master manipulators and protecting your energy while maintaining your integrity. From recognizing triangulation tactics to building your trust network, I break down practical tools you can use whether dealing with these individuals in your personal life or professional settings. Your intuition is more powerful than you think. Trust it. Watch the full video to learn how to protect yourself while staying open to authentic relationships: https://lnkd.in/gF8bViHv #WorkplaceDynamics #ProfessionalBoundaries #EnergyProtection #WorkplaceManipulation #TrustBuilding

🚩 Fake Friends in the Workplace: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore the Red Flags 🚩 “The most dangerous animal on this planet is a fake friend.” How many are around you right now? In any work environment, connections are essential. We rely on relationships to exchange ideas, share support, and push each other forward. But what happens when a “friend” in the workplace isn’t what they seem? It’s a tough topic to address, and I’ve learned the hard way. Years back, I had a colleague I considered a friend. We’d grab coffee, chat about work challenges, and even talk about our future ambitions. They seemed genuinely supportive. But over time, I noticed small things that just didn’t add up. 🔸 Subtle Undermining – They’d make “innocent” jokes about my work in front of others, which chipped away at my confidence. 🔸 Selective Support – They’d offer support when it suited them, but often left me hanging when I needed it most. 🔸 Credit Games – At first, I brushed off the times they’d downplay my contributions, but it became clear they wanted the spotlight. In time, I realized that my “friend” was more interested in competing than collaborating. The energy I’d spent nurturing a friendship was actually fueling their agenda. Why is this so dangerous? 🔸 Misplaced Trust – When you trust someone who’s actually a “frenemy,” you may share ideas, strategies, and insights that they use against you. This isn’t just personal—it can impact your growth and goals. 🔸 Emotional Drain – A fake friend creates emotional baggage. You spend time questioning their motives and doubting your own worth, which can be mentally exhausting and distract you from your actual goals. 🔸 Professional Reputation – A “fake friend” can subtly undermine your professional image, putting your hard-earned reputation at risk. This is especially damaging if they’re skilled at networking or persuasive with leadership. How to spot a fake friend at work: 🔸 Inconsistent Behavior – Notice if their support is conditional. 🔸 Behind-the-Scenes Undermining – Pay attention if others mention them minimizing your contributions. 🔸 Exclusively Transactional – If they’re there only when they need something, beware. If this resonates, take a moment to evaluate the connections around you. It’s better to cultivate fewer, genuine relationships than to keep up appearances with those who drain your energy and harm your progress. So, what’s your experience with “frenemies” in the workplace? How have you navigated these tricky relationships? Drop your thoughts below—let’s discuss in comments. 👇 ♻ Repost and share with your network. 💡 Follow me Shikhar Singh Harnwal. #WorkplaceRelationships #TrustAtWork #ProfessionalGrowth #Leadership #RedFlags #TeamBuilding #CareerDevelopment

5 Signs You’re Being Manipulated: Navigating Office Politics with Wisdom We’ve all felt the sting of misplaced trust, whether it was in a charming colleague, a too-good-to-be-true promise, or flattery. Only later did we realize that it was manipulative. Here's how to stay wise, stay safe, and protect your reputation, well-being, and growth: 1️⃣ Articulate & Logical ≠ Trustworthy Impressive words can mask self-serving motives. Wisdom is in actions, not eloquence. Look deeper. 2️⃣ Beware of the Perpetual Agree-er True allies challenge us for our growth. Those who always say "yes" may not have your best interests at heart. 3️⃣ Charm Can Be a Shield Charisma can hide agendas. Don’t be blinded by charm; observe if it’s used to cover a lack of real substance. 4️⃣ Promises Without Actions Words are cheap; actions reveal true character. Trust those who show up consistently, not just those who talk a good game. 5️⃣ Flattery: Sweet but Dangerous Genuine feedback balances honesty and care. Question the motives behind excessive praise. 🤝 Build your inner circle with people who exemplify integrity, empathy, and respect. 🛡️ Keep others at a respectful arm’s distance - don’t make your caution obvious or disrespectful. This way, you can navigate workplace dynamics and politics wisely, protect your interests, and stay true to your values while balancing kindness and caution.