Making tough decisions can carry risks. Inevitably, not everyone on your team will agree with the decisions you need to make. Handling uncomfortable situations can be difficult – but if you have developed a relationship and established trust with the people on your team, they will take a leap of faith, trusting that you have their best interests in mind. Gaining trust is essential for developing high-performing teams.

In organizations where people trust and believe in each other, they don’t need a policy for every mistake. People in these trusting environments respond with enormous commitment and creativity.

Trust does not come automatically just because you have been given the title of supervisor or manager. Trust is never a given – you have to earn it.

Take these three steps to establish trust.

Step One – Rapport. Rapport is defined as a harmonious relationship where people understand each other’s feelings and communicate well. Take the time to learn about the people you work with and interact with, beyond their job description. What do they like to do outside of the workplace? Do they have hobbies? Do they enjoy reading or travelling? You need to make an emotional connection with others and have conversations on a subject that they like to talk about. If you can do that, you will establish a rapport.

Step Two – Relationships. Relationships are important because people like to work with people they like. If you build those all-important relationships on a solid foundation, people will want to perform well for you. No one wants to let a friend down. However, keep in mind that you can’t build a relationship without establishing rapport first.

Step Three – Respect. Respect is reciprocal, but you have to give it to get it. You need to see things from another person’s perspective. You may not agree with their point of view, but you must respect their right to express it. You can’t establish trust without mutual respect.

Trust is built with consistency; it starts with yourself and grows through your actions.

If you follow the three-step process: rapport, relationship and respect, you will build trust. Trust is the essential ingredient in effective communication. If others can’t trust what you say, they won’t trust you at all. Gaining trust is essential for developing high-performing teams.

Copyright 2026. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a guest speaker for your next event, or planning an in-person training session? Brian works with people who want to learn to communicate and interact more effectively with others, build collaborative teams, resolve conflicts or motivate others to perform at their best.