Building trust with technical and development teams

Building trust with technical and development teams requires specific approaches that respect their expertise and address their unique concerns.

• Demonstrate respect for technical expertise and UX: Engineers and designers value their professional knowledge. Acknowledge their expertise and avoid dictating how they should implement solutions. Focus on the "what" and "why" rather than the "how."
• Be transparent about priorities and changes: Development teams need to understand why priorities shift. Be open about the reasoning behind changes and how they connect to broader business goals.
• Support realistic timelines: Pushing for unrealistic deadlines damages trust. Advocate for reasonable estimates and buffer time for unexpected challenges. Protect the team from external pressure when needed.
• Follow through on commitments: If you promise to provide information, remove a blocker, or follow up on an issue, do it promptly. Reliability builds credibility with technical teams.
• Foster direct communication: Encourage developers to interact directly with other stakeholders when appropriate. This reduces miscommunication and helps them understand user needs firsthand.
• Recognize contributions: Acknowledge the work and innovation of technical team members. Ensure they receive credit for their contributions and feel their work is valued.