Lesson 6: Trust Doesn’t Build Itself

What Holds Everything Together

You’ve clarified expectations, opened up conversations, stepped back to let others grow, and started addressing conflict when it shows up. All of this leads to one thing: TRUST.

Without trust, even the best ideas and strategies fall flat. With trust, your team becomes stronger, more engaged, and ready to follow your lead.

The Mistake: Assuming Trust Will Come With The Title

Being promoted doesn’t guarantee trust. If you’ve moved up from within the team, it can feel even more complicated. Some people may still see you as a peer. Others might not be sure how you’ll lead.

Trust isn’t automatic. It grows from how you show up, day after day.

What Holds Everything Together

Trust is built in small moments. It’s when:

You follow through on what you say.
You show up when it matters.
You give credit, take responsibility, and treat people with respect.

It’s also about being open. If you’re learning, say so. If you make a mistake, own it. Your team isn’t expecting perfection. They’re looking for honesty and direction.

The more consistent you are, the more confident they become in your leadership.

Coaching Prompt

Ask yourself:
Am I leading in a way that builds trust?

Write this down:

What actions have helped build trust with my team so far?
Where might I be sending mixed signals?
What’s one thing I can do this week to show consistency?

It’s the quiet, repeated actions that earn trust over time.

Your Leadership Action

Take the following actions:

Follow through on a promise or commitment you’ve made.
Have one check-in that’s purely about your team member, not the task.
Share one learning moment with the team. Something you’ve reflected on recently.

A Steady Foundation

Trust isn’t something you demand. It’s something you develop through how you lead. With trust in place, your team listens more, speaks up more, and stays aligned even when things get tough. Keep showing up with clarity, care, and consistency. That’s what they’ll remember most.

You’ve now completed this short course. These six lessons have highlighted some of the most common mistakes new sales managers face and offered practical ways to avoid them. Use what you’ve learned here to lead with purpose and build stronger connections with your team from day one.

To support your next steps, you’ll find two useful tools available below:

The 90-Day Success Checklist to help you track your weekly actions.
Free access to The Sales Manager’s First 90 Days digital book for a deeper learning journey.

Take what you need. Apply what matters most. Then keep leading forward. Wishing you all the best on your leadership journey!