How Charged Are Your Trust Batteries?

Why being right isn’t enough—and what actually earns trust in teams that move fast.

We don’t often get told, “I don’t trust you.”But we feel it—when a client second-guesses our advice, when we’re left out of the loop, or when a colleague chooses not to collaborate. Trust is rarely broken in loud, obvious moments. It’s eroded quietly.

Interestingly, most of us have struggled to trust someone at work. But when asked if we’ve ever been seen as untrustworthy, we’re quick to say no.That disconnect? It’s worth pausing over.

As a business consultant, I step into new client environments frequently. I don’t have the luxury of slowly building rapport over quarters. I need to gain trust fast—sometimes in a single conversation. It’s not a soft skill; it’s survival.

But I didn’t always know this.Like most lessons, it started with failure.

Being Right ≠ Being Heard

In my first job, I fell hard for data.I’d spend hours mining insights—uncovering brilliant ideas no one asked for. Then I’d eagerly share them:“Hey Suzy, your team could be 20% faster if you just tweak the packaging size!”“Finance team, we’re bleeding 5% in profit because of our costing logic!”

No one listened.Worse—they looked at me like I was the problem.

I couldn’t understand it. The numbers were solid. The solutions were clear.What more did they need?

One day, my boss pulled me aside and offered a sentence that changed everything:

“If you want people to listen to you, you need to build trust first.”

That was my wake-up call.

The Battery That Powers Everything

In my search to “build trust,” I didn’t find a magic phrase. But I did discover a framework I’ve carried with me ever since. Think of trust like a battery. It needs charging. Not once, but constantly. And like a good power source, it’s not one thing—it’s a circuit.

I use this model: CRIS.

• Credibility – Do you actually know your stuff?

• Reliability – Do people know they can count on you, again and again?

• Intimacy – Do you create the kind of space where others feel safe sharing?

• Self-Orientation – Do people believe you’re focused on their needs, not just your own?If even one of these batteries runs low, the system falters.You can be brilliant (credibility) but flaky (low reliability). Or sincere (intimacy) but clearly out for yourself (high self-orientation). People feel it—even if they never say a word.

The Real Work of Trust

Trust isn’t an outcome. It’s a practice.It’s built in micro-moments:

• Showing up when you say you will.

• Asking someone what they need before offering advice.

• Being honest when you don’t have the answer.

• Giving credit when it’s not expected.

Small actions. Repeated. Consistently.

So here’s a question I now carry with me into every new team, client, or leadership session: How charged are your trust batteries?

And maybe more importantly: Which one needs charging today?