The trust mistake new managers make

This sticky note was inspired by an interaction I had this week with a senior leader who inherited a new team. This framework rings true for any new situation — new team, new cross-functional project, new job.

My Take

The trust deposit before the trust withdrawal

One of the biggest mistakes new managers make:

They inherit a team and immediately try to prove themselves.

They see a lot of low hanging fruit.

They want to change processes.

They push for results.

None of that is wrong. But it doesn’t land if it happens before trust is built.

Build the relationship before you build the accountability.

Your first job is not to fix things. It’s to understand them.

In your first 30 days:

• Ask more than you tell

• Learn before you change

• Understand why things are the way they are

• Build trust before you push for results

One question to ask in your early 1:1s:

“What’s one thing I could do differently that would make you more effective?”

That alone will build more trust than most managers build in months.

Better relationships → better trust → better performance.

You can use this advice in almost any new situation!