Building trust over building features

I didn’t win my first users with features. I won them with trust. Here’s how I built it. ✅ I don’t start with a pitch. I ask questions. “What’s your biggest struggle with content right now?” “What have you tried that didn’t work?” This helps me understand their world—before I even mention my product. ✅ I treat early users as collaborators, not just customers. Their feedback is gold. They tell me what’s confusing, what’s useful, and what’s missing. They help shape the product roadmap more than any spec sheet. ✅ I follow up personally. After someone uses the tool, I check in. “Was it smooth? Where did you get stuck? What would make it 10x easier?” These small touchpoints go a long way in building long-term trust. ✅ I’m transparent about what’s ready and what’s coming. I never overpromise. Instead, I say: “That feature isn’t ready yet, but we’re working on it—and I’d love your input.” In a world of automation, early-stage trust is still built one human at a time. If you’re building something new, don’t wait for perfection. Start conversations. You’ll build something better, and more importantly, you’ll build belief.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐔𝐒 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬: Convenience sounds like a win… But in reality—control builds the trust that scales. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 👇 We were working on improving product adoption for a US-based platform. Most founders would instinctively look at cutting down clicks and removing steps in the onboarding journey. Faster = Better, right? That’s what we thought too—until real usage patterns showed us something very different. Instead of shortening the journey, we tried something counterintuitive: -We added more decision points -Let the user customize their flow -Gave options to manually choose settings instead of setting defaults And guess what? Conversion rates went up. Engagement improved. And most importantly—user trust deepened. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝: You can design a sleek 2-click journey…  …but if the user doesn’t feel in control, they hesitate. Especially in the US market, where data privacy and digital autonomy are hot-button issues—transparency and control win. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞: → People often disable auto-fill just to manually type things in.  → They skip quick recommendations to do their own comparisons.  → Features that auto-execute without explicit confirmation? Often uninstalled. 💡 Why? It’s not inefficiency. It’s digital self-preservation. It’s a mindset of: “Don’t decide for me. Let me drive.” And I’ve seen this mistake firsthand: One client rolled out a smart automation feature that quietly activated behind the scenes. Instead of delighting users, it alienated 15–20% of their base. Because the perception was: "You took control without asking." On the other hand, platforms that use clear confirmation prompts (“Are you sure?”, “Review before submitting”, toggles, etc.)—those build long-term trust. That’s the real game. Here’s what I now recommend to every tech founder building for the US market: -Don’t just optimize for frictionless onboarding. -Optimize for visible control. -Add micro-trust signals like “No hidden fees,” “You can edit this later,” and clear toggles. -Let the user feel in charge at every key point. Because trust isn’t built by speed. It’s built by respecting the user’s right to decide. If you’re a tech founder or product owner: Stop assuming speed is everything. Start building systems that say, “You’re in control.” That’s what creates adoption that sticks. What’s your experience with this? Would love to hear in the comments. 👇 #ProductDesign #UserExperience #TrustByDesign #TechForUSMarket #DigitalAutonomy #businesscoach #coachishleenkaur Linkedin News LinkedIn News India LinkedIN for small businesses

Why would your users distrust flawless systems? Recent data shows 40% of leaders identify explainability as a major GenAI adoption risk, yet only 17% are actually addressing it. This gap determines whether humans accept or override AI-driven insights. As founders building AI-powered solutions, we face a counterintuitive truth: technically superior models often deliver worse business outcomes because skeptical users simply ignore them. The most successful implementations reveal that interpretability isn't about exposing mathematical gradients—it's about delivering stakeholder-specific narratives that build confidence. Three practical strategies separate winning AI products from those gathering dust: 1️⃣ Progressive disclosure layers Different stakeholders need different explanations. Your dashboard should let users drill from plain-language assessments to increasingly technical evidence. 2️⃣ Simulatability tests Can your users predict what your system will do next in familiar scenarios? When users can anticipate AI behavior with >80% accuracy, trust metrics improve dramatically. Run regular "prediction exercises" with early users to identify where your system's logic feels alien. 3️⃣ Auditable memory systems Every autonomous step should log its chain-of-thought in domain language. These records serve multiple purposes: incident investigation, training data, and regulatory compliance. They become invaluable when problems occur, providing immediate visibility into decision paths. For early-stage companies, these trust-building mechanisms are more than luxuries. They accelerate adoption. When selling to enterprises or regulated industries, they're table stakes. The fastest-growing AI companies don't just build better algorithms - they build better trust interfaces. While resources may be constrained, embedding these principles early costs far less than retrofitting them after hitting an adoption ceiling. Small teams can implement "minimum viable trust" versions of these strategies with focused effort. Building AI products is fundamentally about creating trust interfaces, not just algorithmic performance. #startups #founders #growth #ai

How I Build Trust Without Fancy Dashboards as a Program Manager at Amazon Trust isn’t built by data alone. It’s built by how you show up when things go sideways. Early in my PM career, I thought trust came from hitting deadlines and sharing crisp metrics. Now? I know the real trust builders are quieter…and harder to fake. They show up in the messy middle, not the final deck. Here’s how I build trust without fancy dashboards or status theater: 1/ I respond before I’m asked ↳ I don’t wait for “any updates?” ↳ I update proactively…especially when things slip ↳ Unprompted visibility earns trust fast 2/ I say “I don’t know” quickly…but follow up faster ↳ Honesty > pretending ↳ I don’t hide behind fluff…I find the answer and circle back ↳ Fast clarity beats slow polish 3/ I ask the hard questions early ↳ “What could derail this?” ↳ “What are we assuming?” ↳ Trust isn’t about avoiding problems…it’s about revealing them early 4/ I show my work ↳ I don’t just say “we’re on track”…I explain how ↳ I share the why behind tradeoffs ↳ Transparency beats polish every time 5/ I protect the team publicly, push privately ↳ I own the risk when things go wrong ↳ But I don’t let it slide behind the scenes ↳ People trust who they feel safe with Dashboards are helpful. But if you’re only building trust through metrics… You’re missing the deeper game. 📬 I share high-trust, execution-first tactics weekly in The Weekly Sync: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6qAwEFc What’s one quiet way you build trust with your team?

Real trust isn’t built during demos. It’s built at 4am, when things go wrong. At 4am, our phone rang. A customer had spotted a data issue. We picked up immediately - and jumped in to investigate. Later, they told us: “You fixed a bug before our customers noticed. That’s why we’re sticking with Artie.” Startups don’t win on features. They win on trust. When an enterprise bets on a startup for critical infrastructure - like real-time data pipelines - it’s not just because you’re faster or more performant. It’s because they believe you’ll show up when things go wrong. Yes, Artie has 99.999% uptime. Yes, we’re laser-focused on database replication. Yes, we move fast and adapt to our customer’s roadmaps. But what closes the deal? - Shared Slack channels - Direct access to founders - A phone call at 4am - and we answer In data infrastructure, things will go wrong eventually. What your customers remember is how you respond. That’s why the best thing you can offer as a startup isn't just speed or innovation. It’s a real partnership. Because when they can feel that you care - that they can trust you - that’s when you win. Trust is why they sign. Care is why they stay.

Executive relationships aren’t built in boardrooms — they’re built in small, consistent moments of trust. Having worked closely with CXOs from Fortune 500 companies, I’ve seen firsthand how trust can translate into long-term business impact. Over the years, I’ve come to rely on what I call the PVR framework as my north star for building these relationships: 1️⃣Preparation: Do your homework. Know their story and know it well. That could mean reading their latest post, noting a book they’re working on, or simply being aware of what’s top of mind for them when you walk into a call. Executives can tell within minutes if you’ve come prepared — it sets the tone for respect. Before stepping into a conversation, ask yourself: what’s in it for them? 2️⃣Validation: In psychology, they say “to feel seen is to feel valued.” Show them you’re paying attention. If a recent idea, article, or insight of theirs resonated, bring it up in your next conversation. Not in a forced way, but in an honest, “this stayed with me” way — and here’s my take on it. Authenticity matters. For me, the goal has always been to grow relationships, not “nail” them. That’s the outcome, not the strategy. 3️⃣Recognition: Acknowledge what makes them stand out. Sometimes that’s celebrating a milestone, other times it’s reflecting back the unique perspective they bring. What I’ve found especially meaningful is noticing their unseen efforts; the way they back their teams and quietly create space for others to succeed. Even sharing a positive experience you’ve had with one of their team members goes a long way. It tells them you see the human behind the title and the difference they make every day. In my experience, what stays with leaders isn’t the polished deck or the perfect pitch — it’s the feeling of being seen, heard, and valued. That’s the real foundation of trust. I’d love to hear — what’s worked for you when it comes to building genuine executive trust? 🤝 #executiveengagement #csuite #strategicrelationships

Beautiful photography doesn't sell rooms. Let that sink in. A perfect drone shot of your pool, a staged breakfast on the balcony, a sunset time-lapse over your infinity pool, none of that will fill your property. You can pump out content every day and still wonder why bookings are flat. The problem isn't the content. The problem is you never built the brand. Content without trust is noise. Content without community is wallpaper. Content without brand is just decoration. And decoration doesn't move revenue. If you already have trust, community, and brand, then yes, photography becomes rocket fuel. Video becomes a magnet. Storytelling becomes a weapon. But you can't skip to the end. You can't buy credibility. You can't shortcut relationships. Companies fade. Brands last. So how do you actually build brand in hospitality? Here’s the framework: ➡ Earn trust daily. Reply to comments. Share behind the scenes. Show real people, not just staged perfection. Every piece of content is a deposit in the trust bank. ➡ Build community like your life depends on it. Stop thinking of guests as numbers. Think of them as insiders. Treat them like family long before they step onto your property. Community scales faster than campaigns. ➡ Stand for something. Most hotels market like they're scared of offending anyone. Vanilla never wins. If you want loyalty, be bold. Take a stance. People follow courage. ➡ Stop talking about features. Start showing values. A comfortable bed is not a story. A welcome ritual that makes someone feel like they belong, that's a story. And stories spread. ➡ Consistency beats intensity. A viral reel won't build your brand. Ten years of showing up will. Brands are built in the boring work nobody wants to do. ➡ Humanize every message. Guests don’t care about your occupancy rate or your ADR. They care about connection, belonging, and memories. Build marketing around that and bookings follow. Photography then becomes a multiplier. Video then becomes proof. Ads then become accelerators. But only when the brand is already there. The best hotels in the world didn't win because of better photography. They won because of relentless consistency, clear values, deep community, and trust built brick by brick. The photos just poured gasoline on a fire already burning. If you're in hospitality and you're still obsessed with quick wins, you're playing the wrong game. Build the brand first. Then everything else gets easier. I'll say it again. Companies fade. Brands last. --- If you like the way I look at the world of hospitality, let’s chat: scott@mrscotteddy.com

Automation’s Dirty Secret: It's Replacing Empathy with Efficiency.. But the right strategies can make it your biggest asset. One thing that’s becoming priceless in today’s world of automation: “Trust that’s earned, not engineered.” Which is why, when I work with clients, I focus on building authentic relationships; not just running the latest tech. One thing I prioritize: Ensuring our systems enhance trust, not replace it. The reality? In a world where AI and automation can streamline just about anything, what people are really hungry for is reassurance; knowing that there’s still a person who cares about their experience. And trust? It’s more than just instant answers or quick solutions. Trust is delivering on promises, showing up consistently, and providing value that goes beyond the transaction. Recently, a client came to me with a concern: she was worried that her new automated process would make her customers feel like just another number. My response? “Where’s your human touch in this? How are we reminding clients they’re valued?” Because here’s what clients need to understand: ↳ Efficiency doesn’t replace empathy. The secret to creating long-term loyalty? Build trust by showing up, by staying accountable, and by adding value in ways only you can. So here’s my advice for leaders and founders: -Be transparent -Let your clients see the real people behind the process. -Add that extra touch that makes them feel genuinely valued. In a market crowded with fast solutions, you don’t need to move faster; you need to move more meaningfully. If you’re looking for automation without heart, I’m probably not the right fit. But if you want to create trust that’s unshakable and enduring? I’d love to be your partner. Ready to build trust that stands the test of time? 💡 Let’s create systems that don’t just work – they wow. Systems that prioritize empathy, authenticity, and genuine connection. 📩 Drop me a message or comment below "TRUST" if you’re ready to move from efficiency to impact. Together, we’ll make sure your automation builds relationships, not just results.

Your team doesn't trust you. Here's how I know. Count how many times this happened last week. If it's more than 3, you have a trust problem. And it's costing you more than you think. The signs are everywhere: They document every conversation with you. Not for clarity. For protection. The "Reply All" epidemic on routine emails. When people CC everyone, they're building witnesses. Meetings after your meetings are longer than the actual meetings. Real alignment happens in parking lots and Slack DMs. 💡 Reality: High-trust teams move 5x faster because they skip the CYA theater. I learned this watching a VP destroy her department in 6 months. Smart woman. Great strategist. Zero trust. Her team spent more time covering their backs than doing actual work. → Every decision required written confirmation. → Every idea needed email trails. → Every mistake triggered blame investigations. The result? Top performers fled. Innovation died. Productivity tanked. Here's what low trust actually costs: Time Tax: Everything takes 3x longer → Approval chains for minor decisions → Documentation over execution → Meetings to prepare for meetings Talent Tax: Your best people leave first → High performers won't play politics → They find leaders who trust them → You're left with those who can't leave Innovation Tax: New ideas stop flowing → Why risk anything in a low-trust environment? → People share safe ideas, not bold ones → Your competition gets your team's best thinking The trust builders that actually work: Do What You Say → Every broken promise is remembered → Small commitments matter most → Under-promise if you must, but always deliver Admit When You're Wrong → "I made a mistake" builds more trust than perfection → Take blame publicly, share credit privately → Your team already knows when you screwed up Give Real Autonomy → Stop asking for updates on everything → Let them own outcomes, not just tasks → Trust them to make decisions without you Kill the Politics → No meeting after the meeting → Say the same thing to everyone → Make decisions transparently 💡 Reality: I track trust through response time. When my team stops responding instantly to every message, I know they trust me to not micromanage. The uncomfortable truth? Your team's behavior is a mirror. If they're documenting everything, you've taught them to. If they're playing politics, you've rewarded it. If they're not taking risks, you've punished failure. Trust isn't built in team-building exercises or company retreats. It's built in small moments: → When you don't check their work → When you defend them publicly → When you keep their confidence → When you admit you don't know What trust-killing behavior have you witnessed? Share below 👇 ♻️ Repost if someone needs this reality check. Follow Carolyn Healey for more leadership truths.

Building Trust & Proving ROI. In the #CustomerExperience world, you will be told to do both of these things countless times. But if you have to choose, which comes first? Building trust. Why? Well, as my guest on the latest edition of the #CX Patterns podcast and newsletter, Mark Slatin, CCXP explains, your ability to persuade executives to buy in to your Business Case depends on your relationships with them. 💡 No trust, no buy-in. Even if the case is compelling. ☝ Because, we can always find a reason to doubt the numbers, the ROI, the business case, if we want to. It's your job to first establish trust with executives so that they won't want to doubt your business case. In fact, just the opposite. They'll want to believe. How do you do that? 📖 The first business book I ever read in my career was The Trusted Advisor. You could do worse. The concepts in that book are as relevant today as they were in the distant past of the start of my career. Stressing the importance of traits like Active Listening, Building Empathy & Understanding Emotions, the book outlines 4 Components of Acting as a trusted advisor: 🔹 Credibility - are you expert enough to advise me? 🔹 Reliability - do you say what you'll do and do what you say? 🔹 Intimacy - do I know you well enough? 🔹 Self-Orientation - do I believe you're focused on my needs (less is better)? In our conversation Mark emphasizes that CX pros must embody the mindset of a Trusted Advisor if they're going to persuaded decision-makers in their organizations to commit to CX Transformation. It's sound advice, and if you skip it, you will fail. Don't believe me? 🎧 Listen to the podcast episode for the stories of how Mark and I both failed to get buy-in for compelling business cases at our former employers - starting with my failed attempt to sell the business case for improved returns at New Balance. Trust matters. Relationships matter. Listen to Mark explain how to build trust and cultivate the relationships your success depends on.