Trust may be the cornerstone of every successful relationship, but do we really understand how it works? Many talk about “building trust,” yet trust can’t be constructed like a wall of bricks… it has to be earned, moment by moment, through actions that prove reliability and integrity. Few people know this better than Anne Claessen, CEO of Cashflow Podcasting, whose career has been shaped by both the rewards of trust well-placed and the costs of trust misplaced.

Anne reveals how a great leader’s openness and consistency redefined her view of leadership and team culture, and she shares the painful story of a broken partnership that taught her why not everyone deserves immediate trust. Through her experiences, she illustrates how psychological safety fuels collaboration, why consistency matters more than charisma, and how leaders can recognize red flags before it’s too late.

What You’ll Learn:

• Is trust something you build or earn?
• How a strong leader creates psychological safety and loyalty.
• The subtle red flags that someone may not be worthy of your trust.
• Why turning away the wrong clients is an act of integrity.
• A simple approach to protecting yourself without becoming cynical.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “I assume that people want to do the right thing. I think that is just a good assumption to have, but I don't fully trust them immediately… It's like dating. You don't immediately know someone completely, so you want to get to know them. And that's in dating, that's in business, that is in working with team members.” - Anne Claessen
• “Everyone has stayed—the whole team that we currently have. They've stayed with us for years and years and years; no one ever quits. So I think that also proves that it's not for nothing—it's that trust building. It has a huge impact on the consistency and stability of the business as well.” - Anne Claessen
• “Building implies that an individual person could go build something on their own—just get some hammers, some nails, some wood, and ‘Hey, I'm building away.’ But earning means it is dependent on another human, really appreciating and recognizing the things that you're doing.” - Pete Mockaitis

Resources:

• Andrew Youderian | Founder and Chief Instigator, eComFuel
• How to be Awesome at Your Job 707: Amy Edmondson on How to Build Thriving Teams with Psychological Safety
• How to Trust and Be Trusted: 5 Lessons by Rachel Botsman

About Anne Claessen:

Anne Claessen is the CEO of Cashflow Podcasting, a podcast production company dedicated to helping business leaders launch podcasts that grow their influence and trust at scale. With a background in entrepreneurship and team leadership, Anne brings a deep understanding of how trust impacts client relationships, team culture, and business growth.

Connect with Anne:

LinkedIn: Anne Claessen

Connect With Us

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Rise and Fall of Trust wherever you get your podcasts. And if you’re thinking about launching a podcast that builds trust and drives results, that’s our jam. Schedule a free call at Cashflow Podcasting to learn more.