Trust is the foundation of high-performing teams. Here are the most common mistakes leaders make — and how to avoid them.
Trust Is Everything
As a leadership coach, I've worked with hundreds of managers and executives. The #1 predictor of team performance isn't strategy, skills, or resources — it's trust. When trust breaks down, everything falls apart. Here are the five mistakes I see most often.
High-trust teams outperform low-trust teams by 286% in total return to shareholders
1. Taking Credit for Team Work
Nothing kills trust faster than a leader who presents the team's work as their own. Always give credit publicly and take blame privately. Your team will move mountains for you when they know you have their back.
2. Inconsistent Standards
Applying different rules to different people erodes trust immediately. If you hold one person accountable but let another slide, the entire team notices. Consistency is the foundation of fairness.
3. Avoiding Difficult Conversations
Leaders who avoid giving feedback or addressing problems aren't being 'nice' — they're being negligent. Your team would rather hear hard truths from someone who cares than be blindsided later.
4. Breaking Commitments
Every broken promise, no matter how small, chips away at trust. If you say you'll do something, do it. If circumstances change, communicate proactively. Reliability is leadership currency.
5. Micromanaging
Micromanagement sends the message: 'I don't trust you.' Hire great people, give them clear expectations, then get out of their way. Check in on outcomes, not activities.
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