Rooted2Thrive Podcast: Conversations That Elevate Our Humanity

Trust as Practice: Building Trust in Every Interaction

Season 7, Episode 77

Host: Rochelle Peterson-Ansari

Guest: Dana Riker Jackson

Overview:

In this episode of the Rooted2Thrive Podcast, Rochelle Peterson-Ansari and Dana Riker Jackson explore trust as an intentional, everyday practice that shapes relationships, leadership, organizational culture, and our broader humanity. Drawing from her decades of experience developing people and organizations, Dana explains that trust is deeply personal and influenced by individual experiences, yet leaders can create shared practices that make trust more visible, measurable, and actionable. The conversation examines how consistency between words and actions, honest communication, listening, feedback, accountability, and clearly demonstrated values contribute to stronger relationships and healthier workplaces. Dana also emphasizes the importance of slowing down, understanding what people need, and recognizing that leaders must model the behaviors they hope to see throughout their organizations. Ultimately, the episode challenges listeners to examine every interaction through a simple question: will what I am about to say or do build trust or destroy it?

Topics discussed:

• Trust as an Everyday Practice: Trust is strengthened or weakened through repeated interactions, making everyday behaviors and choices essential to building meaningful relationships.

• Understanding the Personal Nature of Trust: People's experiences shape what they need in order to trust others, requiring leaders to listen and understand rather than assume trust means the same thing to everyone.

• Aligning Words, Actions, and Values: Leaders build credibility when their behaviors consistently reflect what they say and when organizational values are actively practiced rather than simply stated.

• Creating Cultures of Honest Feedback: Open conversations, continuous feedback, and a willingness to listen help teams navigate disagreement while maintaining trust, dignity, and alignment.

• Choosing to Build Rather Than Destroy Trust: Every interaction presents an opportunity to strengthen trust, weaken it, or begin repairing what has already been damaged.

Guest:

Dana Riker Jackson

Founder and CEO of Riker Opportunity Institute and the U-ROC Leadership Ready to Work Program.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.r.jackson.73
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikeropportunityinstitute/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danarikerjackson/
Website: www.RikerOpportunityInstitute.com

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