The Trust Factor: Why Strong Teams Rise and Struggling Teams Stall

Many leaders who say, “I just need my team to perform better.” They want higher productivity, smoother collaboration, or fewer conflicts. And almost every time, when we dig beneath the surface, the issue isn’t skill or strategy—it’s trust.

Trust is the invisible glue of every high-performing team. Without it, people hold back, play it safe, and protect themselves. With it, people take risks, lean in, and multiply results.

Patrick Lencioni said it best in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: “Trust lies at the heart of a functioning, cohesive team.”

So what does it take to build trust that lasts? Here are three commitments leaders can make:

1. Show Up Consistently

Nothing builds—or erodes—trust faster than consistency. When you say you’ll do something, do it. When you commit to a standard, follow through. Even in small things, consistency compounds.

A leader who shows up on time, keeps their word, and follows through on commitments quietly earns trust. Over time, that consistency becomes the bedrock of team culture.

👉 Reflection question: Where could you be more consistent this week to build trust with your team?

2. Tell the Truth (Even When It’s Hard)

People can handle tough news. What they can’t handle is wondering if they’re getting the full story.

Telling the truth doesn’t mean being harsh. It means being honest with clarity and compassion. Teams thrive when they know their leader isn’t sugarcoating reality or keeping secrets.

And here’s the bonus: when you tell the truth, you create permission for your team to do the same. That kind of candor leads to better ideas, faster problem-solving, and deeper connections.

👉 Reflection question: What’s one place where you could choose truth over comfort in a conversation this week?

3. Extend Trust First

Someone has to go first. Leaders who extend trust—through delegation, empowerment, or vulnerability—invite others to step up.

This doesn’t mean blind trust. It means giving your people space to own their work, even if they don’t do it exactly like you would. Most often, they’ll rise to the responsibility when they know you’ve trusted them with it.

👉 Reflection question: What’s one responsibility you could entrust more fully to someone on your team this week?

Final Thought

Strong teams don’t stall because of talent gaps—they stall because of trust gaps. As a leader, your commitment to consistency, honesty, and extending trust first sets the tone. Build trust, and you’ll build a team that doesn’t just perform—it thrives.