Trust: The Foundation of Every High-Performing Team
By Kraig Kleeman
Founder & CEO, The New Workforce
When it comes to creating a successful team, there’s one critical element that stands above all others—trust. In my years as an entrepreneur, scaling companies from nothing to multimillion-dollar ventures, I’ve learned that no matter how talented your team members are, the success of your business ultimately comes down to the level of trust within your team. Trust is the foundation upon which high-performing teams are built.
Without trust, collaboration is difficult, communication is hindered, and, ultimately, your business will struggle to reach its full potential. But how do you build and maintain trust within your team from the outset? That’s what I’m going to share with you in this article—practical, actionable insights on building trust that will set your team up for success from day one.
1. Lead by Example
Trust begins with leadership. If you want your team to trust each other, they need to see you leading with integrity, transparency, and honesty. As a leader, your actions speak louder than your words. If you demonstrate that you are trustworthy, your team will follow suit.
How to Implement:
Be Transparent: Share both successes and challenges with your team. Let them see the full picture. Transparency fosters trust because it shows that you trust your team enough to keep them in the loop.
Own Your Mistakes: A leader who is open about their mistakes encourages the team to be humble, too. When mistakes happen (and they will), own them and show your team how to learn from them.
Stay Consistent: Be consistent in your actions and decisions. Trust is built on predictability, so your team should feel confident that your actions align with your words.
2. Communicate Openly and Honestly
Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship—especially when it comes to building trust. Open, honest communication allows for better understanding and fewer misunderstandings. When team members feel like they can speak freely without fear of judgment or backlash, it creates an environment where trust can thrive.
How to Implement:
Foster a Safe Space for Open Dialogue: Make it clear that your team members can voice concerns, ideas, and feedback without fear of negative consequences. This kind of psychological safety encourages honesty and transparency.
Listen Actively: Trust isn’t just about what you say—it’s also about how well you listen. When you listen actively and with empathy, you show your team that their opinions matter.
Keep Everyone in the Loop: Regularly communicate updates, whether they’re good or bad. By keeping your team informed, you demonstrate respect for them and their role in the company.
3. Empower Your Team and Delegate Responsibility
Trust is a two-way street. It’s not enough for your team to trust you—you also need to trust them. One of the most effective ways to build trust is by empowering your team with responsibility and giving them the autonomy to make decisions. When your team knows you trust them to get things done, it fosters a sense of ownership and accountability.
How to Implement:
Delegate Meaningfully: Instead of micromanaging, delegate tasks and responsibilities that align with your team members’ strengths. Allow them to take ownership of projects and encourage them to find solutions.
Encourage Autonomy: Give team members the freedom to make decisions within their scope of responsibility. Autonomy helps to build confidence and demonstrates your trust in their abilities.
Celebrate Achievements: When your team accomplishes something great, take the time to acknowledge their hard work. This reinforces the trust you have in them and motivates them to continue delivering their best.
4. Foster Collaboration and Mutual Respect
A team that collaborates well together is one that trusts one another. When team members collaborate, they share ideas, challenges, and solutions. This mutual exchange builds respect and trust because it reinforces the idea that each person’s contributions are valuable.
How to Implement:
Encourage Cross-Functional Collaboration: Break down silos by promoting collaboration across departments or teams. This allows for a flow of ideas and ensures that everyone has a chance to contribute.
Promote Respectful Disagreements: Healthy disagreement is natural and productive when handled respectfully. Encourage your team to voice differing opinions, but ensure that discussions remain respectful and focused on solutions, not personal attacks.
Celebrate Teamwork: Acknowledge when collaboration leads to success. Recognizing the value of working together reinforces the importance of trust and teamwork.
5. Be Accountable and Hold Others Accountable
Trust is deeply rooted in accountability. When people are held accountable for their actions and commitments, trust in the team grows. Accountability ensures that everyone knows what’s expected of them and that they are responsible for delivering on their promises.
How to Implement:
Set Clear Expectations: From day one, establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. When everyone understands what they’re responsible for, accountability becomes much easier.
Hold Everyone to the Same Standard: As a leader, it’s important to set the tone for accountability. Hold yourself to the same standards you expect from your team. Leading by example builds trust and reinforces that accountability is a team effort.
Address Accountability Issues Directly: If a team member is falling short, address the issue directly but respectfully. Handling accountability issues promptly prevents small problems from escalating into larger ones.
6. Invest in Relationship Building
At the end of the day, trust isn’t just about business—it’s about relationships. Investing time and effort into building personal connections with your team will make it easier to build trust. When team members feel like they are valued as individuals, they are more likely to trust each other and their leader.
How to Implement:
Spend Time Together Outside of Work: Plan team-building activities or informal outings that allow your team to bond on a personal level. This builds camaraderie and helps break down professional barriers.
Get to Know Your Team Personally: Take the time to learn about your team members beyond their job roles. Understanding their interests, motivations, and challenges makes it easier to connect and build trust.
Show Appreciation: Small gestures of appreciation go a long way in building relationships and trust. Whether it’s a thank-you note or a simple “well done,” showing gratitude reinforces that you value your team.
Conclusion: Trust is the Backbone of Every High-Performing Team
Building trust within your team is not something that happens overnight. It takes intentional effort, clear communication, and a commitment to fostering an environment of respect, collaboration, and accountability. But when trust is established, the benefits are immeasurable.
A team that trusts each other can overcome any challenge, adapt to change, and work together toward shared goals. If you want to build a high-performing team, start by focusing on trust—because without it, the foundation of your business will never be as solid as it could be.
About Kraig Kleeman
Kraig Kleeman is a highly successful entrepreneur, author, and showrunner. If his accomplishments and aspirations were to draw inspiration from natural icons, he could be described as a fusion of Elon Musk’s visionary approach to business and Mick Jagger’s electrifying stage presence. He possesses keen business acumen and a flair for captivating performances that awe audiences.
Kraig’s entrepreneurial spirit is boundless, as evidenced by his track record of founding a tech company and taking it from nothing to $30 million in sales, in less than four years. His newest venture, CEO Branding Worldwide, is growing by triple digits, quarter over quarter. While some may liken his abilities to a Midas touch, others prefer to think of it as transforming companies into profitable ventures instead of turning things into gold!
