Building trust with a skeptical team member takes time and consistency. Start by being genuinely open and approachable, showing that you're willing to listen and understand their perspective without judgment. Demonstrate reliability by following through on commitments and being transparent in your actions. Acknowledge their concerns and validate their experiences, which can help them feel seen and respected. Collaboration is key—work alongside them, sharing responsibilities and giving credit where it’s due. Over time, trust grows naturally when they see that your intentions align with the team’s goals and that you’re committed to their success as well as your own.

Here are some strategies to earn trust and respect from a skeptical new team member: Listen Actively: Show genuine interest in their perspective to build rapport and understanding. Be Transparent: Share your thoughts openly to foster trust and reduce skepticism. Seek Input: Ask for their insights to demonstrate that their opinions are valued. Demonstrate Competence: Show your expertise through actions, not just words, to earn respect. Offer Support: Extend help and guidance to ease their transition and create a sense of partnership. Building trust takes time, but consistent communication, empathy, and reliability will gradually bridge the gap.

Building trust with a skeptical new team member is like befriending a new neighbor who's initially wary. Be consistent & reliable: Show up regularly & follow through on your promises, just like lending a helping hand to your neighbor. Open Communication: Have open & honest talks, actively listening to their concerns as u would when getting to know your new neighbor's preferences. Show empathy: Grasp their perspective & make them feel heard, like understanding a neighbor's hesitance. Shared goals: Collab on shared goals, like planning a neighborhood project. Positive reinforcement: Celebrate small wins & value their contributions, just like praising your neighbor for their help. Patience & sincerity go a long way in building trust & respect.

Stay positive and be consistent. Make sure to deliver on what you say you will and when you can over deliver to show that you are about the quality of the work you do and that you are willing to put in the extra mile. Continue to ask questions and listen to the skeptic to determine how you are doing and make adjustments as necessary. Ask them for feedback, hear them out and make pivots accordingly. Being willing to work with this person and show you care about the relationship will go a long way to building trust.

Give him/her a space. Maybe he has bad experiences from his previous job, or maybe his personal life isn’t easy right now, many things could be happening. But the most important thing is that he feels he can rely on you and that he trusts you. I’d definitely suggest more frequent 1-on-1s, or simply ask, “I feel like we could talk through some things, what do you think?”. However, I’d aim to keep the conversation in a relaxed atmosphere, let’s go for lunch, have a video coffee, etc., to make the meetings feel lighter! Above all, don’t force it, don’t push, and lead by example by showing that you care about the entire team as a good leader.?