Working Well Series Session 1: Creating the Conditions for Trust and Clarity

Change, transitions and tumult across the University has made it difficult for people to know what to expect and how to engage one another in honest dialogue. This opening session explores what trust looks like in practice and what gets in its way. Participants will name what helps them feel seen, safe, and respected, and identify small shifts that can rebuild clarity and communication across teams.

Objectives: Understand how trust and transparency cultivate a culture of care, even amid change and tumult Reflect on how information, power, and tone influence connection Identify team-level practices that make communication more reliable

Participants Will: Distinguish between reassurance and authenticity in leadership communication Identify daily behaviors that either build or erode trust Draft a set of simple agreements for how they want to work and communicate together

Outcomes: Shared understanding of psychological safety in professional environment A draft set of “ways of being” to guide meetings, decisions, and collaboration Increased empathy for the experiences of colleagues managing change and uncertainty