You Got The Job...Now What?
Building Trust Fast: A New Leader’s Playbook for Earning Respect
You just got the promotion...or landed a new leadership role. Congratulations. But now comes the hard part: earning the trust and respect of the team you’re leading. Whether they’re brand-new faces or people who’ve known you for years, your first 90 days set the tone for everything that follows.
Here’s how to do it right.
1. Listen Before You Lead
Most new leaders make the mistake of thinking their first job is to prove they deserve the title. The truth is, your first job is to learn. Spend your first few weeks listening, really listening, to the people on your team. Ask questions like:
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“What’s working well right now?”
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“What’s one thing you’d change if you could?”
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“What can I do to make your job easier?”
Then take notes, look for themes, and show that what you heard matters. People trust leaders who listen before they fix.
2. Be Consistent
Trust isn’t built on charisma, it’s built on consistency.
Do what you say you’ll do, show up when you say you will, and make your words and actions match.
If you make a commitment (even a small one), deliver. Reliability builds credibility faster than any motivational speech ever could.
3. Clarify Expectations Early
One of the most common sources of tension on teams is unspoken expectations. Be clear about what success looks like, both for you and for the team.
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Define what “done right” means.
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Explain how decisions will be made.
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Share how you prefer to communicate and how you’ll measure progress.
Clarity creates calm. The faster your team knows where you’re headed, the faster they’ll trust your leadership.
4. Protect Your People
Nothing earns respect faster than showing your team you’ve got their back. That means:
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Taking responsibility when something goes wrong.
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Giving them credit when things go right.
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Shielding them from unnecessary chaos or politics.
When your team sees you as a protector, not just a manager, you earn loyalty that lasts.
5. Model What You Expect
If you want accountability, be accountable.
If you want positivity, bring it first.
If you want ownership, own your mistakes.
Leadership is contagious. People rarely do what you say, they do what you show.
6. Communicate Frequently (and Honestly)
Silence creates suspicion. Overcommunicate early - share updates, priorities, and even what you don’t know yet. Transparency builds credibility, and it’s better to be clear than to be perfect.
Even a quick “Here’s what’s happening this week” email or five-minute huddle can make a big difference.
7. Ask for Feedback Early and Often
One of the most powerful trust-builders is humility. Within your first month, ask:
“How am I doing so far? What’s one thing I could do better?”
You’ll be surprised how much respect you earn by simply inviting feedback...and acting on it.
Final Thought
You don’t need years to build trust, but you do need intention.
If your team knows you listen, follow through, protect them, and tell the truth, you’ll earn their respect faster than any title could ever grant.
Leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about being worth following.
Ryan Giles
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