What Gets In the Way of Trust on Teams: Q&A with Ben Swire

What Gets In the Way of Trust on Teams: Q&A with Ben Swire

From Creative Confidence Podcast by IDEO U

March 20, 2026 · 44 min

About this episode

This episode explores the hidden barriers to building trust on teams through a Q&A with Ben Swire.

There are many hidden barriers to building trust on teams, and sometimes we don’t see them until something breaks down. In this episode of the Creative Confidence Podcast, Mina Seetharaman sits down again with Ben Swire—co-founder of Make Believe Works and author of Safe Danger —for a practical Q&A on what actually gets in the way of trust on teams. Drawing on his experience designing team experiences for organizations around the world, Ben answers questions from the Creative Confidence community. Why does trust break down even on high-performing teams? What makes feedback feel risky? How do you create space for honest conversation without forcing vulnerability? And what can leaders do in the moment when trust starts to erode? Related resources: Safe Danger , by Ben Swire Make Believe Works – Unique team building that actually makes an impact. Cultivating Creative Collaboration online course with IDEO U, taught by IDEO CEO Mike Peng Read the episode recap on the IDEO U blog: ideou.com/blog __________ Get episode recaps and register for free live podcast events at ideou.com/podcast . Build your creative problem-solving skills with IDEO U's online courses in human-centered…

People in this episode

Host: Mina Seetharaman

Guest: Ben Swire

Topics covered

  • trust
  • teams
  • feedback
  • communication
  • leadership

Keywords

  • trust
  • teams
  • feedback
  • communication
  • leadership
  • vulnerability
  • high-performing teams

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Make Believe Works, IDEO U

Books & works: Safe Danger

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