Trust Isn't Always There

How to Recognize that Trust is Broken

Insight from Rameel Sheikh

If something is off between me and another person, I need to stop what I'm doing and take the time to think about each variable in the Trust Equation.

I put myself in the other person's shoes and consider where a gap might weaken the trust between us.

I've noticed some tell-tale signs that trust has been damaged like:

• avoiding spending time together

• silence despite disagreement

• disengagement in meetings

• closed-door conversations that turn into vent sessions about another person

• people playing politics

• slow execution on directions that have been given

• a formerly close relationship drifting off the rails

• immediately jumping to the worst possible conclusion about why the other person said or did something.

I've realized that people often complain about a colleague in very specific ways, focusing on what they do wrong or why they're awful. But they don't realize that trust is the bigger issue at play.

Whenever I've encountered this situation, I've found it helpful to reframe the problem as a violation of trust.

This approach allows me to approach repairing trust more directly rather than giving into feelings of general dislike and withdrawal.

Learn More: About how to identify if trust has been broken