What To Do When They Don’t Trust You Yet
Why Credibility Comes Before Control
Read Time: 5 minutes
You didn’t start this project.
You weren’t there for the kickoff.
And now, you’re leading it without the benefit of established trust.
It’s a common but tough spot.
You’re expected to drive outcomes, but the team isn’t fully bought in yet.
Let’s talk about how to earn trust without chasing it.
You Inherited a Project, Not the Trust
When you’re brought in mid-project or mid-crisis, you inherit everything but the credibility.
That means you’re working with:
- Established power dynamics
- Skepticism about your role
- Past baggage you had nothing to do with
- A team that might be guarded, cautious, or even resistant
This isn’t personal. It’s just human.
Trust takes time, but traction starts now.
Signs You’re Not Trusted Yet
You’ll feel it before they say it. Watch for:
🚧 Team members double-checking your decisions
🚧 Stakeholders excluding you from key discussions
🚧 Passive resistance, like missed deadlines or vague updates
🚧 “We’ve always done it this way” used as a shield
🚧 Being asked to prove yourself again and again
💬 A PM in our community shared how she took over a high-visibility project after the previous lead burned bridges. For the first month, every update she gave was questioned, and she was left out of several planning calls. So instead of pushing harder, she started holding 1-on-1s with key players, asking how they defined success. By month two, things shifted not because she had the title, but because she listened, delivered early wins, and built trust one conversation at a time.
How to Build Credibility Without Begging for It
You don’t earn trust by over-explaining or overcompensating.
You earn it by showing up with clarity, consistency, and courage.
Here’s how:
✅ Listen deeply before changing anything. Don’t show up as a fixer. Show up as a learner.
✅ Deliver one visible win fast. A well-run meeting, a clear update, or resolving a stuck task builds confidence quickly.
✅ Acknowledge the past without blaming it. Say: “I know this project has had some bumps. I’m here to move it forward with fresh eyes.”
✅ Be consistent. The fastest way to gain respect is by being reliable in tone, updates, and decisions.
✅ Ask for input before making calls. When people are part of the process, they’re more likely to trust the outcome.
You Don’t Need Their Full Trust Today
You just need enough to start moving.
The rest is built moment by moment through presence, delivery, and how you respond when things get tough.
And that is how credibility is earned between the milestones.
👇 Your Turn
Have you ever taken over a project where the team didn’t trust you yet?
👉 Share your story in the comments below or respond to this email.
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