ABSTRACT
One of the most common ways that leaders bust trust is acting in ways that are insensitive or inconsiderate of others. The leaders we know who were perceived in this way were not bad people. Sometimes they were likable. In fact, we believe they could not see that their behaviors were insensitive, inconsiderate, or offensive. Some of the common behaviors in which insensitive, inconsiderate leaders engage are telling inappropriate jokes, making comments that hurt feelings, being sarcastic, and stereotyping people. Faculty members would pause before they entered the meeting room and take a deep breath, wondering who might be offended during the meeting. Whenever teachers saw the principal talking and laughing with someone, they automatically assumed that someone was the butt of a joke. The assistant principal suggested that for a few weeks the teacher be assigned to an afternoon duty schedule rather than a morning duty schedule as a way to help her.
