Breaking Trust at Work

Trust is the foundation of effective leadership. As a leader, every interaction is an opportunity to either strengthen or weaken the trust your team places in you.

Have you been breaking trust?

Problem

Many leaders unintentionally break trust through actions like inconsistent communication, micromanagement, lack of follow-through, or dismissing feedback. These trust breakers compound over time, leading to disengagement, low morale, and even attrition. The challenge? Leaders rarely receive direct feedback about these behaviors, and traditional training formats are too time-consuming to address them effectively.

Solution

I created a short microlearning video that delivers high-impact insights in under two minutes. The video outlines common trust-breaking behaviors with brief, clear explanations that help leaders quickly recognize and reflect on their own habits.

This format is designed to:

Raise awareness of subtle but damaging leadership behaviors
Encourage self-reflection without overwhelming the learner
Promote behavior change through bite-sized, actionable insights
Fit seamlessly into a leader’s day, making learning accessible and sustainable

By focusing on micro-moments of leadership, this video helps leaders build stronger, more resilient teams

Tools Used

Synthesia allowed me to transform my written script into engaging video segments by selecting avatars that matched the tone and audience of the message. I uploaded the finalized script directly into the platform, then customized the delivery by adjusting the avatars’ voice styles, pacing, and emotional tone to ensure the message felt authentic and aligned with the learning objectives.
I used Microsoft Word as a foundational tool for both scriptwriting and storyboarding. This helped me stay organized, intentional, and aligned with the learning objectives throughout the creative process.

Respecting Confidentiality

As part of my commitment to honoring client trust and proprietary content, I’m unable to share the full course I developed for Development Dimensions International (DDI). The materials are protected under confidentiality agreements and internal use policies.

What I Can Show You

While the full course remains private, here’s a glimpse into the instructional design elements I crafted:

AI Video Creation

Using AI tools allowed me to produce high-quality video content quickly and consistently, while maintaining a professional tone and visual polish.

It enabled rapid iteration and customization for different audiences or contexts.
It supported multimodal learning, appealing to visual and auditory learners.
It allowed me to simulate realistic scenarios and deliver nuanced messaging without requiring a full production team. This approach aligns with adult learners’ need for flexibility, efficiency, and relevance—especially in fast-paced organizational environments.

Talking Directly to the Learner

I chose a direct-address format to speak to the learner, not at them.

This conversational tone fosters psychological safety and emotional engagement, which are critical when discussing sensitive topics like leadership and trust.
It mirrors coaching or mentoring interactions, making the content feel more personal and applicable.
It supports constructivist learning, where learners reflect on their own experiences in light of the message being delivered. By addressing the learner directly, I created a sense of accountability and empathy, encouraging deeper reflection and behavior change.

Highlight Trust-Breaking Behaviors

Trust is foundational to effective leadership, and sometimes the most powerful lessons come from understanding what not to do.

I used video to illustrate common missteps—such as micromanaging, withholding information, or failing to follow through—that can erode team trust.
This approach supports experiential learning and transformative learning theory, prompting learners to re-evaluate assumptions and commit to better practices. By showing what to avoid, I helped learners build awareness and emotional intelligence—key traits for any leader.

See It In Action

While the full video remains private, here’s a glimpse into the video I crafted.

Select the play button to watch the video.

Let’s Connect

If you're interested in seeing more examples of how I apply learning theory to design, feel free to reach out. I’d love to share additional projects and insights from my work as an instructional designer.

www.linkedin.com/in/marilu-oliva/

marilu.fabiola5215@gmail.com