Building trust and credibility

Trust isn't built through grand gestures but through consistent small actions. Follow through on commitments, even minor ones. If you say you'll send meeting notes by Friday, send them by Friday. Reliability in small things signals reliability in big things.

Build credibility by demonstrating competence in your domain. Come to meetings prepared. Understand the technical constraints and business context. When you don't know something, admit it and follow up with answers. Stakeholders respect honesty more than false confidence.

Share credit generously and own mistakes completely. When things go well, highlight the team's contributions. When things go wrong, take responsibility and focus on solutions. This approach builds loyalty and makes stakeholders more willing to support you during challenging times.