Building Trust in Business Teams: 4 Key Ways to Strengthen Your Foundation
Trust. It's one of those words we throw around, especially in business, but do we really stop to think about what it means? We tend to talk about trust as something you have to "earn" or "build" over time. But if you think about it, we give trust to people all day, every day, without even realizing it. You step into a crosswalk trusting that the car coming at you is going to stop. You board a plane trusting that the pilot knows exactly what they’re doing. You trust the doctor prepping for your surgery has everything under control. And yet, when it comes to our teams, we treat trust like it’s some monumental task—like it’s fragile and needs constant attention. But is it really that complicated?
Trust in teams is more than just believing someone will do what they say. It's about knowing they can do the job, that they understand where you’re coming from, and that they'll show up consistently. So, what can we do to lean into that natural trust and take it even further?
Trust isn’t something you have to build brick by brick. Sometimes, you just have to lean into it.
Let’s dig into a few things that make trust more than just a word.
Start with Open Communication
We don’t question whether the car will stop at the red light—we just assume it will. Trust within teams can work the same way if we communicate openly. When we can speak up, ask questions, and challenge each other in a healthy way, that trust deepens. It’s not about earning the right to be heard; it’s about knowing your voice matters. If your team feels confident they’ll be heard, they’ll start to naturally trust the process.
Show Up with Consistency
Just like we trust a pilot to get us to our destination, we trust teammates who deliver on what they say. Consistency isn’t about perfection—it’s about reliability. If you keep showing up, hitting deadlines, and staying true to your word, trust grows. It’s that simple. It’s like knowing that every time you throw the ball, someone’s going to catch it. The more consistent you are, the more you build that trust.
Lead with Empathy
We don’t just trust doctors because they have degrees; we trust them because we believe they understand what we’re going through. The same is true for teams. Trust grows when people take the time to understand each other—when they genuinely care. When a team member shows empathy, whether it's for a tight deadline or a personal challenge, it sends a message: "I've got your back." And trust isn't something you have to force; it just happens.
Hold Each Other Accountable
Accountability might sound like a buzzword, but it’s really about having faith that everyone will pull their weight. High-trust teams aren’t afraid to call each other out—not in a harsh way, but because they know they’re all in it together. Accountability is just another way of saying, “I trust you to get it done, and I trust you enough to help keep me in line too.”
At the end of the day, trust isn’t something we need to make complicated. We already trust people in so many ways without thinking about it. The same can be true for our teams. If we communicate openly, show up consistently, lead with empathy, and hold each other accountable, trust becomes second nature. And when that foundation of trust is there? That’s when teams stop being just a group of people and start becoming something more—a true team, working together toward a common goal.
Trust isn’t something you have to build brick by brick. Sometimes, you just have to lean into it.
