The first 30 days in a leadership role set the foundation for how your team will see you. Trust isn’t given freely—it’s earned through consistent actions, open communication, and genuine care for your people. If you’re stepping into a new leadership position (or looking to reset your leadership approach), here are five critical actions to build trust quickly—and challenges to help you put them into practice.

1. Actively Listen

Why It Matters: Your team members want to feel heard, not just managed. Active listening goes beyond nodding your head in meetings—it’s about understanding their concerns, ideas, and motivations. When people feel heard, they trust that their leader values them.

How to Implement:

• Schedule one-on-one meetings with each team member within the first 30 days.
• Ask open-ended questions like, “What’s working well for you?” and “What obstacles are getting in your way?”
• Listen without interrupting. Paraphrase their points to confirm understanding.

💡 Challenge: For the next 7 days, practice silent listening. In every conversation, focus on listening first and only responding once they’ve finished. Notice how much more you learn when you’re fully present.

2. Communicate Transparently

Why It Matters: Teams don’t trust leaders who only communicate when there’s bad news or when it benefits them. Being transparent means sharing both wins and challenges so that your team feels included in the bigger picture.

How to Implement:

• Share your leadership philosophy and expectations within the first wee.
• Keep your team informed on decisions that impact them—even if it’s just, “I don’t have an answer yet, but I’ll keep you updated.”
• When you make a mistake, own it. Admitting when you’re wrong shows integrity and builds credibility.

💡 Challenge: At your next team meeting, open up about a decision-making process. Share the factors you’re weighing and ask for input. Transparency invites collaboration.

3. Lead by Example

Why It Matters: Your team is always watching. If you want accountability, show accountability. If you expect professionalism, demonstrate it. Leadership isn’t about giving orders—it’s about setting a standard through action.

How to Implement:

• Be on time. If you expect punctuality, be the first one in the room.
• Follow the same rules you set for others. No “do as I say, not as I do.”
• Stay calm under pressure. Your team will mirror your response to stress.

💡 Challenge: Pick one behavior you expect from your team—and go all-in on modeling it. Whether it’s meeting deadlines, speaking with respect, or keeping commitments, make sure your actions align with your expectations.

4. Be Approachable

Why It Matters: If your team hesitates to come to you with problems, small issues will become big ones. Being approachable means making it safe and easy for people to talk to you.

How to Implement:

• Create space for informal conversations. Not every interaction should be about work.
• Use positive body language. Make eye contact, smile, and be open rather than closed off.
• Respond thoughtfully. If someone comes to you with a concern, don’t dismiss it—validate their experience, even if you can’t solve the issue immediately.

💡 Challenge: For one week, end every conversation with an open door statement. Try, “If anything comes up, let me know—I’m happy to talk.” See if more people start approaching you.

5. Show Reliability

Why It Matters: Nothing destroys trust faster than broken promises. Your team needs to see that you follow through—whether it’s meeting deadlines, backing them up, or keeping your word.

How to Implement:

• Avoid overpromising. If you’re not sure you can deliver, say so.
• Set expectations and meet them. Even if it’s as simple as, “I’ll get back to you by Friday.”
• Be predictable in a good way. Your team should never wonder if you’ll show up for them.

💡 Challenge: Write down one commitment you’ve made to your team that you haven’t fully delivered on yet. Take action this week to complete it and prove your reliability.

Final Thoughts

Trust isn’t built overnight, but small, intentional actions add up quickly. By actively listening, communicating transparently, leading by example, being approachable, and showing reliability, you’ll lay the foundation for a team that believes in you.

💡 Which of these challenges are you going to take on first? Let me know in the comments!

📢 Want more leadership insights? Follow me on LinkedIn for regular posts on leadership, management, and team-building.