204. How Do You Deal with Trust in a Crisis Situation?

In this episode, Julia speaks with Maria in the final conversation of the Trust series — turning attention to what happens to trust in a crisis, when plans fall away and decisions must be made quickly.Maria reflects on trust not as something that can be trained or demanded, but as something that is created over time through communication, shared values, and relationships. A crisis, she explains, does not create trust — it reveals it. In moments of pressure, leaders rely instinctively on the systems, cultures, and people they have already built.The conversation explores the nightmare scenario of crisis leadership: being trapped in a system you do not trust, surrounded by people you do not trust, guided by values you do not trust. Without psychological safety, transparency, and shared responsibility, stress rises, communication collapses, and people look for exits rather than solutions.Maria and Julia discuss what sustains trust under pressure: presence, consistency, honesty, and the courage to listen. They talk about trust as a two-way practice — trusting others to speak up, and being trustworthy enough to genuinely hear what is said, especially when it is uncomfortable.This episode is a reminder that trust is the greatest asset in a crisis — and that it can only be drawn on if it has been built, carefully and deliberately, long before the crisis begins.About the Guest: Maria is a Master Certified Coach (MCC), accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) with more than 4,000 coaching hours. She brings over 25 years of corporate and consulting experience, having held senior regional and global leadership roles in international organizations. Her career includes positions such as ManagingPartner at ecap;Group Head of Organizational, Learning & TalentDevelopment at J&P; Global HR Director at Vision; andEEMEA Training & Development Manager at Nielsen.She has also led Talent Acquisition for NCR across the MEA region and served as an Executive Leadership Trainer and Mentor at PwC.Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Insurance Studies from the University of Piraeus, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from MIM, and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Middlesex University.