When Your Boss Says “I Trust You,” It Might Be Doing Something Unexpected at Work

Ever heard your manager utter “I trust your judgment” and thought of it as a moment of recognition? It actually reflects a sense of confidence, allowing the employee to have more control over the decisions. That said, recent studies show that these simple utterances may have more complex effects than what the average person would think, especially in a group setting.

Hearing such utterances from a manager may have different effects on the employee based on how they perceive the trust, according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology.

The Pressure Behind Being “Trusted”

How do you feel when your manager expresses trust in you? Do you feel pressured? In most cases, being trusted feels like being extra responsible for your actions and work, increasing expectations in ways that are not necessarily obvious.


The employee may feel free to give his or her best, but at the same time, he or she may become aware of the fact that his or her decisions are being watched.

The reason why employees who are trusted may end up being cautious is the fact that they may feel that they risk a lot in case they make a mistake, since they have been identified as trusted employees, according to the research.

Also, if one employee is publicly trusted, it does not remain hidden from others. What is the consequence of this case is that other team members might think of it as favoritism, even if it is not the case. And honestly, this can affect the social dynamics of a team.

If a person feels neglected, it might create a feeling of envious behavior in them.

The Link Between Trust and Workplace Tension

Trust can unintentionally promote competition within a team, according to the research. Why? This is because, when trust is perceived to be limited or selective, people may end up feeling that they have to compete for it.

This may affect how people interact with each other within a team. This isn’t perceived as fair at all.

The study's implications for leaders emphasize the significance of communication of trust within a group of people. Expressing trust in one person without fully considering the rest of the group may result in division among the members, even though the intentions are good. Leaders need to understand that their actions have a larger social impact.

So, effective communication can promote the strengthening of trust within the group rather than having a detrimental impact, according to Frontiers in Psychology.

A More Nuanced View

The assumption that trust will always result in greater performance and a better team is being re-evaluated according to recent studies. Trust is still an essential part of any leader, yet it is not a one-dimensional solution. The effects of trust are determined by context, communication, and overall perception by the team.

By understanding this complexity, employees and managers alike can use trust with greater awareness. What appears to be a simple show of confidence may have hidden influences that shape behavior within the workplace, yet are not immediately apparent.