If there’s a single most important behaviour about being on a high performing team, whether it’s as a leader or otherwise, it’s to listen first.Not waiting for your turn to speak. Not fixing. Not rushing. Just listening. I often talk about trust being the non-negotiable in any professional relationship, whether with clients or colleagues. But trust isn't built in a day. It's built the way fitness is: through daily commitment and consistent practice, over time. Trust is a feeling. And that feeling has far less to do with titles or personalities, and far more to do with the environment people create around them. For colleagues, trust comes from caring enough to make people feel safe telling you what’s really going on. For clients, it comes from caring enough to tell them what’s really going on. Both require people who listen properly, learn from what’s said and do the right thing with the information they have. So here’s a practical guide from us to you:• Listen first. When you speak first, you shape the conversation. When you listen first, you create space for others. People who feel valued and heard are more likely to share openly, own mistakes, and ask for help. • Show up to learn. You don’t know everything. So be honest about it. Ask questions to help you understand better and find out where you need to grow. • Lead with confident humility. It shows you are capable and self-aware. That’s a great combo for helping people feel safe and trust you. • Redefine “vulnerable.” To a lot of people vulnerability sounds like weakness, oversharing, or crying at a meeting. But it’s actually just about being open and honest. • Be authentic. Share your strengths and your weaknesses. Be confident about what you know and admit what you don’t know. (That’s a different way to say “vulnerable” just in case you were looking for a different word!) • Make noticing people a process. You probably have a process for every area of your life. Small moments make a big impact. Learning personal details, checking in on the important dates—it might feel minor to you, but it can mean everything to them. As a final thought, if trust is earned through behaviour, what is yours saying about you? You’re doing great!
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