How to trust and be trusted: 5 lessons

by Rachel Botsman

Trust is a word we use a lot. But have you ever learned how to make smart decisions about trust? How to earn the trust of other people? Or, how to repair trust when it breaks down? Rachel Botsman has helped the world’s brightest minds change the way they think about trust. Now, in How to Trust and Be Trusted, she shares those insights with you in five clear principles.

Genres: Audiobook, Leadership, Nonfiction

Audiobook

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Rachel is the co-author of the upcoming book What’s Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption (Harper Business, October 2010). She consults, writes, and speaks on the power of collaboration and sharing through current and emerging technologies, and on how it will transform business, consumerism, and the way we live.

Rachel has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. She graduated with a BFA (Honors) from the University of Oxford and undertook her postgraduate studies at Harvard University. She has consulted with leaders at the highest levels on the intersection between brand, innovation, and sustainability, both as an independent adviser and with top-tier agencies including Prophet Brand Strategy and What If Innovation. Rachel has also worked as a teaching assistant at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and acted as an editorial advisor on the book Creativity Inc.: Building an Inventive Organization, (Harvard Business School Press, 2003.) Her articles have appeared in a range of publications including Business Week, Brandchannel, Business21, and Worldchanging.

To build her experience in the public and political sectors, Rachel joined The William J. Clinton Foundation as a director. During her time at the Foundation she worked with celebrities, CEOs, government, media figures, and NGO leaders spearheading high-profile public-private partnerships including The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Nickelodeon, Rachael Ray, and the National Basketball Association. She was instrumental in building The Alliance for a Healthier Generation — a joint venture with the American Heart Association — into a multi-million dollar national program that mobilized broad-based support efforts to help combat childhood obesity.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really taken by Botsman's contention that transparency does not build trust, but rather replaces the need for it, and therefore must be applied intentionally. Blanket transparency ultimately undermines our stamina for trust and our willingness to take the kind of "trust leaps" necessary for innovation.

The content was good, but the format felt a bit over-produced for my taste.

[Ajay Misra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely gave me a new perspective on trust in all areas of my life. The audiobook’s immersive storytelling and interviews made the lessons feel personal and actionable.

It changed how I approach my romantic relationship, improving how I communicate and build trust with my girlfriend. It also reshaped how I interact in business, helping me better navigate relationships with colleagues, mentors, and those I lead.

A practical and insightful read that makes you rethink how trust shapes every connection you have.
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[Karana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good high level review of trust in the workplace with questions and takeaways. Engaging audio read by author and guest speakers. Gives you a better understanding of how trust breaks down with employees and how to repair. “Compliance alone will never get the culture you want.” Great section on transparency.

[mike m · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe more like 3.5 stars. it's like a long podcast [audiobook], not sure I got more out of it by having the whole book. I did like the clarity that you can't "build trust" (the phrase that everyone uses), you can only make yourself trustworthy and then it's *entirely* up to the other person how much they will trust you

[Sammy Mohamad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked listening to this book! Rachel Botsman, the author, did a fantastic job writing and recording this book. The book also had lots of amazing advice that I plan to use in my real life. I recommend this book to pretty much everyone!

[faina · Rating 3 out of 5]

audio. didn't finish