It started with a gut feeling.
I was reviewing candidates for a role as a project manager when I came across a résumé that looked… too perfect. Certifications? Impressive. Project scope? Massive. Metrics? Spot on. But something didn’t sit right.
So I picked up the phone and called the reference from their “past employer.” The voice on the other end hesitated—too long—and then said, “I’ve never heard of that person.”
Turns out, the reference was fake. The project didn’t exist. Even the LinkedIn profile had been crafted to mimic a style typical of real professionals in that field.
Welcome to 2025: where resumes can be AI-written, voices can be cloned, and “proof” can be manufactured in seconds.
If trust used to be earned over time, it now has to be built proactively and protected deliberately—especially for leaders working in environments committed to Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement.
Why This Matters More in a CI Culture
Lean and CI environments thrive on transparency, problem-solving, and structured experimentation. These depend entirely on trust. Without it, team members won’t raise issues, suggest improvements, or challenge broken processes. And in today’s world of deepfakes, fake credentials, and AI-generated work, trust is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s infrastructure.
As leaders, we now face two challenges:
- External misinformation entering our systems (like fake candidates or doctored data).
- Internal uncertainty—team members questioning what’s real, what’s manipulated, or whether speaking up is still safe.
5 Tactical Ways to Build Trust in a Tech-Heavy, Misinformation-Heavy World
1. Create a “Verify, Then Trust” Culture—Without Killing Speed
Just like Lean relies on standardized work, we now need standardized verification when it comes to credentials, claims, and even content.
- Use multi-source validation for hiring and data reviews.
- Encourage teams to ask: “What are we basing this decision on? Where did that data come from?”
- Make it normal to double-check, not a sign of mistrust.
2. Use Gemba Walks to Anchor Reality
In a world full of filtered dashboards and manipulated metrics, Gemba remains your best defense.
- Visit the floor. Talk to people. See the process.
- Ask questions that uncover truth, not just results: “What problem are you seeing here?” or “Where do you feel stuck?”
Being visible and curious builds both authenticity and accountability.
3. Teach Your Teams How to Spot AI-Generated Work
This isn’t just for IT anymore.
- Offer short trainings or workshops on how to identify AI-written text, doctored images, or manipulated audio.
- Show examples of deepfakes and ask teams, “What would you do if this came across your desk?”
- Equip, don’t scare.
Awareness is a trust multiplier.
4. Celebrate Vulnerability Over Perfection
One of the deadliest assumptions in Lean is that people need to “have the answer.” Not true.
- Normalize saying “I don’t know yet” or “We’re still learning.”
- Share your own leadership mistakes and how you corrected them.
- Encourage A3 thinking that includes failures—not just polished countermeasures.
This creates psychological safety, which is trust in action.
5. Use Transparency as a Design Principle
Trust isn’t a one-time event—it’s a system.
- Make dashboards and performance boards open-access whenever possible.
- Communicate decisions with the “why,” not just the “what.”
- Let your team see the criteria behind choices, promotions, and priorities.
Clarity kills rumors. Visibility strengthens culture.
Final Thought
In Lean, we say, “The process is the problem, not the person.” But in 2025, we also need to say: “The lack of trust is a root cause.”
As leaders, we’re not just optimizing systems—we’re shaping environments where people feel safe to contribute, question, and grow. In a world flooded with misinformation, your transparency, curiosity, and integrity are more valuable than ever.
Let’s keep trust real, because the rest might not be.
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