HerMoney with Jean Chatzky – Ep 491: The 7 Trust Languages That Will Transform Your Career

Date: September 3, 2025
Guests: Minda Hartz (author, workplace equity expert), Ambika Singh (CEO of Armoire)
Host: Jean Chatzky

Overview

In this episode, Jean Chatzky interviews Minda Hartz about her latest book, "Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace." The discussion centers around how trust—or the lack thereof—determines career advancement, well-being, and financial success for women, especially women of color. The second half features Ambika Singh, CEO of the clothing rental service Armoire, discussing the financial and emotional costs of getting dressed, with a focus on sustainability and modern professional women's lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Cost and Currency of Trust at Work (01:00–09:45)

• Trust is Foundational: Minda Hartz emphasizes that trust is not a luxury but a necessity in workplaces, affecting everything from promotions to well-being.
  • Quote: “Trust is one of those things that it shouldn’t be an emotional luxury... it costs us so much when trust is not a two-way street.” (Minda Hartz, 01:00)
• Hartz's Personal Story: Despite high performance, she felt stuck because of broken trust with her employer—a common experience for many women.
  • Trust can be stymied when it’s one-sided, and lack of trustworthy sponsorship limits advancement (05:07–05:51).
• Well-being & Productivity: High-trust workplaces show lower stress, more energy, and less burnout (06:32–07:06).
• Financial Impact: Trust, as a workplace currency, influences tenure. Hartz left a company before vesting due to eroded trust, directly affecting her earnings and benefits.

The Symmetry and Erosion of Trust (09:45–13:16)

• Bidirectional Trust Breakdown: Hartz notes both employees and employers distrust one another (“a communication crisis,” 10:24).
• Gender & Racial Dynamics: In male-dominated spaces, women—especially women of color—can find it markedly harder to trust, propelled by lack of representation and purposeful inclusion.
  • Quote: “Trust has to be a noun and a verb... If we say inclusivity is important but our About Us page tells a different story, it’s hard to trust.” (Minda Hartz, 11:34)
• Organizational Costs: Distrust leads to costly turnover: “$322 billion is lost a year on employee turnover.” (12:25)

Why Now? Post-Pandemic Trust Crisis (13:16–14:41)

• A Universal Need: The need for trust is shared globally across cultures and contexts.
• Communication Gaps: Many trust breakdowns stem from silent, unmet expectations between employees and leaders.
  • Quote: “Maybe if we close the expectation gap and we have better conversations, we can get back to the foundation of trust.” (Minda Hartz, 14:34)

The Seven Workplace Trust Languages: Introduction (17:18–24:36)

The Seven Trust Languages:

1. Sensitivity
2. Transparency
3. Security
4. Demonstration
5. Feedback
6. Acknowledgement
7. Follow-Through

Sensitivity (17:47–20:59)

• Definition: Not about ‘crying in cars,’ but about empathy and cultural awareness—recognizing that colleagues may be impacted by jokes or comments that others find benign.
  • Quote: “Being sensitive doesn’t mean we’re crying in the car at work... it’s the empathy, being mindful of our impact.” (Minda Hartz, 17:53)
• Practical Challenge: Written vs. verbal communication—email’s lack of nuance often escalates misunderstandings.
• Actionable Advice: Clarify intentions before escalating, assume positive intent when possible, and encourage open conversations.

Transparency (20:59–24:36)

• Definition: Radical honesty, even when all information can’t be shared yet.
• Personal Story: Hartz’s manager, Harold, gave six months’ layoff notice, a risk that deepened trust (21:42).
• Scripted Requests: Ask clarifying factual questions to invite transparency around things like return-to-office mandates.

Navigating AI in Workplace Communication (24:36–26:43)

• AI and Trust: When performance reviews feel AI-generated, authenticity and humanity in communication become paramount.
  • Quote: “Don’t just pop it [an AI-generated communication] in and say, ‘Okay, done...’ Think about, am I going to strip somebody of their humanity and their dignity and respect when they read this?” (Minda Hartz, 25:14)

Feedback and Repairing Trust (26:43–29:51)

• Feedback Language: Effective feedback is meaningful, consistent, and two-way—not just leaders criticizing, but employees able to respond.
• Rebuilding:
  • Standardize onboarding/offboarding to anchor trust.
  • Acknowledge the work of all, not just superstar employees.
  • Ask team members what they need to do their best work, learning which trust languages matter most to them.
  • Quote: “…if we knew one of them [the trust languages], we would have a better relationship… our communication would be a lot better than it was maybe an hour ago.” (Minda Hartz, 29:24)

Leading from Any Position (29:51–31:29)

• Employee Power: Even without authority, anyone can start shifting culture—begin by identifying and sharing your own trust languages, initiating honest dialogue, and advocating for your needs.
  • “If trust can be broken, it can also be rebuilt with the right conversation.” (Minda Hartz, 30:17)
• Assessment: Take time to discern which trust languages matter most for you and for your colleagues.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Trust should not be an emotional luxury... We're going to spend 90,000 hours of our lives at work." (Minda Hartz, 01:00 & 09:03)
• "Trust has to be a noun and a verb." (Minda Hartz, 11:34)
• "Maybe if we close the expectation gap and have better conversations, we can get back to the foundation of trust." (Minda Hartz, 14:34)

Special Segment: The True Cost of Getting Dressed with Ambika Singh, CEO of Armoire (34:16–45:24)

The Closet Conundrum

• Emotional Cost: Guilt is the most common feeling expressed by women about their full closets—guilt over money, time, fit, and consumption (34:58–37:44).
• Utilization Matters: The real cost of clothing comes down to cost per wear. Most purchased dresses are worn fewer than three times; rental amortizes cost and consumption across many users (37:55–40:44).
• Sustainability: The average American discards 81 pounds of clothing yearly. Most donations end up as trash (43:32). Rental and resale keep garments in circulation, reducing waste and environmental impact.
• Is Renting Right for You? Singh suggests that if you love variety and low-commitment, renting offers a managed, enjoyable experience, while thrifting/consigning may suit those who love the hunt (40:44–42:27).

Sustainability Elevator Pitch

• You get boutique-level curation and near-infinite wardrobe variety with none of the guilt or excess—plus, you help save the planet by reducing waste and maximizing each garment’s life (44:39–45:18).

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |---------------------------------------------|--------------| | Opening and Minda Hartz’s Introduction | 01:00–04:39 | | Minda’s Personal Story on Trust | 04:39–06:32 | | What High-Trust Workplaces Look Like | 06:32–08:13 | | Trust as Currency & Financial Cost | 08:13–09:45 | | Two-Way Trust and Gender Dynamics | 09:45–13:16 | | The Global, Post-Pandemic Trust Crisis | 13:16–14:41 | | Seven Trust Languages Introduction | 17:18–17:47 | | Sensitivity Explored | 17:47–20:59 | | Transparency and Radical Honesty | 20:59–24:36 | | AI & Human Trust in Communication | 24:36–26:43 | | Feedback: Giving, Receiving, Solutions | 26:43–29:51 | | Leading Trust Culture from Any Level | 29:51–31:29 | | Ambika Singh: Emotional Costs of Dressing | 34:16–37:44 | | Rental vs. Buying: Cost, Utilization | 37:55–42:27 | | Sustainability and Clothing Waste | 43:02–44:30 | | Rental’s “Elevator Pitch” | 44:39–45:18 |

Conclusion

This energizing episode delves into the crucial role of trust as both a practical and emotional currency in the workplace, offering actionable advice and relatable stories, especially for women navigating modern career barriers. The latter half spotlights the intersection of fashion, time, and sustainability. Both segments reinforce that whether at work or in wardrobe, trust, communication, and conscious choices are foundational to well-being, productivity, financial health, and planetary stewardship.

For more on the Seven Trust Languages and actionable scripts for restoring trust, check out Minda Hartz’s “Talk to Me Nice.”
Curious about guilt-free, sustainable fashion? Connect with Armoire and Ambika Singh.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• “Trust is not just a nice to have in the workplace. It is the foundation of everything.” — Jean Chatzky (01:32)
• “If trust can be broken, it can also be rebuilt with the right conversation.” — Minda Hartz (30:17)
• “This is your dream closet... lovingly curated for you so you can get out there in the world.” — Ambika Singh (44:39)