How Leaders Can Build Trust With Employees Faster Than They Think

The most effective people leaders are the ones who are trusted.  And if you’re employees trust you, it can make your job a lot easier. But how can you build that trust quickly? Sometimes it takes… exceptional circumstances as I explain in this video:

Why Trust Is Built in Small Leadership Moments

Most leaders know trust takes time. You communicate clearly, follow through, treat people fairly, and eventually people start to believe you mean what you say.

But every now and then, an awkward moment speeds things up.

This happened early in my time as a department head. I had inherited a difficult relationship with an employee who did not fully trust the organization. Then I made a mistake involving an important document she had sent me.

Once I realized what had happened, I had a choice. I could explain why it was not entirely my fault, or I could own the mistake and try to fix it. I chose the second option, even though the fix was not exactly glamorous.

The practical result was not perfect. But the leadership result mattered. Something shifted in the relationship because she saw honesty, accountability, and follow-through in a moment where it would have been easy to get defensive.

That is one of the ways trust is built at work. Employees do not only watch leaders when everything is going well. They also watch what happens when something goes wrong.

Why Trust Sometimes Builds Faster Than Expected

The surprising thing about trust is that it often grows in imperfect moments.

Not when leadership looks polished.

Not when everything goes smoothly.

But when someone makes a mistake, owns it, and tries to make things right. That is often where trust begins.

And occasionally, for reasons I still do not fully understand, that process involves a dumpster.

Looking to build trust within your teams? Check out my suite of Awkward Leader Leadership Keynote Talks