We're in a Trust Recession
I have been thinking a lot about trust lately. Not the big dramatic kind you see in headlines, but the quiet, everyday trust that holds our relationships and businesses together.
Across every audience I’ve spoken to, people keep telling me the same thing:
Connection feels harder to build.
Trust feels harder to earn.
People feel more guarded than ever.
I've started referring to this as a trust recession.
And I think it goes even deeper... I believe we are also in a relationship recession.
We have more followers and fewer real friends.
More meetings and less real connection.
More ways to communicate and fewer moments where we feel truly seen.
When relationships are thin, trust has nowhere to land.
When connection is shallow, trust cannot take root.
Here is the good news.
If trust and meaningful relationships are declining everywhere, the people who commit to them will stand out in ways their competitors cannot. Trust is not a trend. It is a relationship skill. And relationship skills never go out of style.
Now let’s talk about where trust actually comes from.
You know I am always studying relationships. Clients, teams, leadership, even the relationship you have with yourself. And I keep seeing the same truth rise to the surface.
Trust is rarely built in the big moments. It is almost always built in the small, quiet moments that most people overlook. The moments no one applauds. The moments you never post online.
Trust grows through things like:
• The follow up email after an uncomfortable conversation
• The promise you keep when delaying would be easier
• The tone you use when a client feels overwhelmed
• The way you make people feel after interacting with you
• The consistency you show when no one is watching
• The integrity you hold when no one knows the details
These moments build your reputation, your loyalty, and your long term growth.
And here is something we all need to remember:
Trust is not built through perfection. Trust is built through reliability. Reliability inside a relationship tells someone, “I can count on you. I feel safe with you. I trust you.”
You cannot shortcut trust.
You build trust by first building a real relationship.
Relationships are the soil.
Trust is the fruit.
And business grows from both. 🌱
You can chase the next big thing. Or you can become the person people rely on. One path burns you out. The other supports your life and your business for the long term.
So here's my question for you this week:
If you paused the constant growth chase and focused on deepening relationships and trust, what would shift in your business this quarter? What would shift in your confidence, your leadership, or the way you show up?
I would love to hear what comes up for you.
Barb 💕
