Trust Isn’t a Trait. It’s a Skill We Can Build.

What if we stopped thinking about trust as something you either have or don’t—and started treating it like what it really is? A skill. 

• One we can all develop. 
• One we can all practice. 
• One that has the power to transform how we lead, how we connect, and how we build cultures where people truly thrive.

I recently sat down with the fabulous Andrew Sykes , CEO of Habits at Work and author of the upcoming The Trust Advantage, for a powerful LinkedIn Live conversation. You can watch the full-conversation, here.

I had many takeaways from my conversation with Andrew, but here were my top three:

1. Trust is built in moments, not milestones.  It’s not the big wins or bold speeches that create trust. It’s the micro-moments. The eye contact (culture dependent), the conveyed empathy, and the tone. The presence to pause and truly listen. These small signals shape the extent to which we are perceived as being trustworthy. .
2. Trustworthiness is something we can practice.  Being trustworthy isn’t fixed. It’s a habit we can strengthen through presence, consistency, and intention. 
3. The most underrated leadership skill is taking responsibility to restore trust.  Every leader will mess up. What matters most is how we take responsibility, admitting our mistake and then taking steps to restore trust.

Beyond the Takeaways: Habits That Build Trust

What I especially appreciated about our conversation were the practical tools Andrew offered. 

Here are a few habits you can start practicing right now to build more trust with your team:

• Ask more questions as opposed to just giving answers. Curiosity builds connection.
• Slow down when you greet someone. Those first few seconds matter more than you might think.
• Deliver on small promises. The “I’ll get that to you tomorrow” kind of promises. Trust is built in the here and now.
• When you make a mistake, say the words: “I’m sorry.” Then follow up with action to restore trust.
• End meetings by affirming others. A little recognition goes a long way.

These are simple, everyday actions that over time, can make a measurable difference. 

I’m very excited to announce that Gary Pinkus , outgoing Chairman of McKinsey & Company , North America and my former classmate at Stanford, will be joining me for my May LinkedIn Live!

We often hear that "it starts at the top" when it comes to building a culture of wellbeing. But what does that actually look like in action? We’ll hear firsthand from one of McKinsey’s top leaders and a longtime champion for wellbeing at work. 

Join us on May 21st at 11 AM PT. Stay tuned for more on that.

ABOUT LAURA

Laura Putnam, CEO of Motion Infusion & Author of Workplace Wellness That Works, is on a mission to leverage every workplace and every team to promote better health, happiness, and wellbeing. Subscribe to Laura’s newsletter to get 4 tangible ideas each month to infuse wellbeing at work and at home.