The Small Behaviors That Break Trust at Work — and How to Address Them

The Small Behaviors That Break Trust at Work — and How to Address Them Unconscious power dynamics, psychological safety, and practical tools for healthier conflict

Most workplace tension doesn’t start with a big argument. It starts in the everyday moments: someone gets interrupted, credit gets missed, information is withheld, tone turns sharp, or a concern never gets voiced. People stay polite, move on, and tell themselves it’s not worth it, but unspoken friction doesn’t disappear. It quietly erodes trust, collaboration, and performance.

In this engaging keynote, we explore the small behaviors and everyday power dynamics that shape how safe people feel to speak up, contribute, and challenge ideas. You’ll gain insight into why teams avoid conflict, why certain conversations become emotionally charged, and how patterns like dismissal, exclusion, and undermining show up in meetings and decision-making.

This session is designed to normalize conflict and make it workable. You’ll learn practical language and simple tools to address tension early, without blame, escalation, or defensiveness. We’ll also look at what psychological safety actually looks like in real workplace communication, and how small shifts in behavior can reduce friction and strengthen accountability.

You’ll leave with clear, usable strategies for addressing what feels off, and a new understanding of why conflict doesn’t have to be feared. When handled well, it builds trust, improves collaboration, and creates healthier, higher-performing teams. People who feel safe perform better.

Course overview

• Subtle words and behaviors with a big impact

• Unconscious power dynamics at work

• Avoidance, friction, and unspoken conflict

• Conflict health and response patterns

• Courage in communication — with a focus on relationships

• Psychological safety and language for difficult conversations

• Individual reflection (optional sharing)

Duration

2 hours | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time, New York, UTC-4)

Target Audience

For employees and managers across all industries

Teaching Method

Interactive lecture combined with discussions, reflections, and examples.

What previous participants say about the course

• “Highly needed and strongly recommended for supervisors and managers.”

• “Resourceful and highly beneficial.”

• “Jacob was outstanding — his tone, expertise, and delivery were exactly on point.”

-> Personal references are available upon request. See Edvida’s [reference list]. Are you a larger group?

Would you like to book this training for your organization—on-site or delivered digitally on a date of your choice? You’re welcome to request a proposal here.

Prefer to sign up via email?

Send your inquiry to info@edvida.org – we also offer invoice payments