Take a Closer Look at the Trust You’re Building
Trust is one of those things leaders don’t think about until it’s missing. When it’s there, work feels easier — conversations flow, decisions get made, and people show up with confidence. When it isn’t, everything takes a little more effort. Messages are softened. Concerns go unspoken. People hesitate instead of leaning in.
That’s why it’s worth pausing every so often to ask: How much trust am I really building?
Not as a judgment, but as an honest check-in with yourself.
The Nature of Trust
Trust rarely falls apart in dramatic fashion. It fades in small, subtle ways — a missed follow-up, a reaction taken the wrong way, or a rushed moment that feels dismissive. These moments add up because trust isn’t static; it shifts and changes based on your everyday interactions.
A trust audit helps you notice what’s happening before those shifts grow into gaps. It isn’t a formal assessment or a performance tool — it’s a quiet moment of reflection about how your words, actions, and habits shape the experience of working with you.
Why Trust Deserves Your Attention
Trust isn’t a “soft skill” — it’s a strategic advantage. Teams with high trust communicate more openly, recover quickly from challenges, and make decisions with less friction. When trust is strong, people bring forward ideas, concerns, and opportunities that might otherwise stay quiet.
And when trust is shaky, leaders feel it. You may notice tension in conversations, a need to over-explain, or the sense that you’re constantly “managing” instead of empowering. Everything gets a little heavier.
That’s why attending to trust — regularly and intentionally — matters.
How to Conduct Your Own Trust Audit
Think of this less like an evaluation and more like a leadership check-in — a moment to see your impact with clearer eyes so you can lead with more intention.
Here are a few reflection questions to guide you:
Do people tell me the truth — especially when it’s uncomfortable?
If challenges surface late or concerns feel filtered, trust may be thinner than you think.
Do I follow through on what I say?
Consistency signals reliability. People don’t need perfection from you — just follow-through.
Do I listen to understand or listen to respond?
Slowing down to truly hear someone is one of the fastest ways to strengthen trust.
Do I communicate expectations clearly — and kindly?
Clarity is a form of care. People trust what they understand.
Do people take risks around me?
Experimentation, questions, and respectful disagreement are signs of psychological safety.
You don’t need to write the answers down — just be honest with yourself. Your impressions will tell you what you need to know.
What to Do with What You Learn
A trust audit isn’t about finding flaws — it’s about noticing opportunities. Maybe you want to be more transparent. Maybe you want to slow down. Maybe you realize you want to ask for more feedback, not just give it.
Small, everyday shifts make a big difference — a thoughtful follow-up, sharing a bit more context behind a decision, or pausing long enough to be present. Trust grows in these intentional moments.
Rebuilding Trust (If You Need To)
Every leader has moments where trust slips — even with the best intentions. What sets strong leaders apart is their willingness to repair. Sometimes all it takes is saying:
“I realized that may not have landed the way I intended. Let me try that again.”
That simple moment of humility can reset an entire relationship. It reminds people that leadership is human, not perfect — and that you value connection more than control.
A Closing Reflection
Think about how your team interacts with you — what they share, how they show up, and how they bring you concerns or ideas. Their behavior tells a story about the trust they feel.
So ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do this week to strengthen trust?
It doesn’t have to be dramatic — just intentional. Because trust isn’t a project. It’s a practice. And every day, you have a chance to strengthen it.
In Partnership With You
At FlashPoint, we help leaders create trust-filled cultures through leadership development, team effectiveness work, and coaching that strengthens communication, connection, and confidence. If you’re exploring ways to deepen trust on your team or across your organization, we’d love to support you.
