Why My Boss Doesn’t Trust Me? Here Are 15 Reasons Why

Why my boss doesn’t trust me? I can tell by the way she micromanages my work. She’s never letting me make even the smallest decision without her approval.

It’s frustrating because I know I can do great work on my own.

I’ve tried to build up her trust in me, but it seems like she doesn’t see me as reliable no matter what I do.

Why My Boss Doesn’t Trust Me? Here Are 15 Reasons

Let’s face it; we’ve all had that one boss who didn’t seem to trust us.

No matter what we did, they always looked over our shoulders, waiting for us to make a mistake.

Thus, let’s first identify the potential reasons and then work on them to gain the boss’s trust. What are the reasons your boss doesn’t trust you?

1. You’re New To The Job:

If you’re new to the job, then it’s only natural. Your boss would be a little hesitant to trust you with important tasks. 

It is not because your boss doesn’t think you can do it, but because they want to be sure.

They would want to see how you work. If you can handle the responsibilities, then they trust you.

When you are new to a job, the best way to gain their trust is by:

– Doing your job to the best of your abilities.

– Showing that you are willing to learn new things.

– Asking for help when needed.

– Accepting feedback positively.

2. Your Boss Is New:

When your boss is new, they would want to gain the trust of their seniors by being extra careful.

They would not want to take any risks, resulting in them losing their job.

Your best bet would be to give them some time to settle in. Understand the work culture and their expectations from you.

Once they get to know you better, they will trust you more. They would be more comfortable delegating work.

3. Your Workstyle Is Different:

This is one of the main reasons bosses don’t trust their employees.

If your work style is different from what they’re used to, it can be hard to trust you.

Your boss would want to know that you can get the work done the way they want it.

The best way to deal with this is by:

– Communicate with your boss about your work style.

– Showing them that you are willing to adapt to their expectations.

– Proving that you can get the job done in their desired way.

4. You’ve Made Mistakes In The Past:

If you’ve made mistakes in the past, it will be hard to gain your boss’s trust.

They would be more hesitant to give you essential tasks. They don’t want you to make any more mistakes.

The best way to deal with this is by:

– Accepting your mistakes.

– Apologizing for your mistakes.

– Showing that you’ve learned from your mistakes.

– Proving that you won’t make the same mistake again.

5. You’re Not Following Their Instructions:

This is another primary reason why bosses don’t trust their employees. If you’re not following their instructions, you’re not taking them seriously.

For instance:

– If your boss asks you to do something in a certain way and you don’t do it. It shows that you don’t respect their opinion.

– If you’re not following the company’s policies and procedures. It shows that you don’t care about the company.

It also shows that you’re not willing to work the way they want you to.

The best way to deal with this is by:

– Communicate with your boss about their expectations.

– Asking for clarification if needed.

– Showing that you’re willing to follow their instructions.

6. You’re Not Being Honest:

If you’re not being honest, it shows that you cannot be trusted. Honesty at the workplace is essential.

Your boss would want to know that they can trust you with important information.

The best way to deal with this is by:

– Communicate openly and honestly with your boss.

– Showing that you’re trustworthy.

For instance, your boss gave you a task to do. You know that you can’t complete it in the given time frame.

The best thing to do would be to communicate this to your boss instead of lying about it.

7. You’re Gossiping:

If you’re known for being a gossip monger, it will be hard to gain your boss’s trust.

They would be hesitant about confiding in you or sharing vital information. 

Thus, if your boss tells you something in confidence, don’t go around telling everyone about it.

In this way, you will show that you can be trusted. To avoid gossip:

– Don’t talk about other people behind their back.

– Avoid talking about sensitive topics.

– Focus on work instead of gossiping.

8. You Have A Bad Attitude:

If you have a bad attitude, you’re not willing to work together with your team.

It also shows that you don’t respect your boss’s authority. A bad attitude can be in the form of:

– Being rude or disrespectful.

– Not being a team player.

– Being uncooperative.

If you want to improve your relationship with your boss, it’s essential to have a positive attitude.

9. He Trusts No One:

Some bosses don’t trust anyone. They have trust issues. No matter what you do, it will be hard to gain their trust.

The best way to deal with this is by:

– Trying to build a good relationship with your boss.

– Showing them that you’re trustworthy.

Eventually, if you keep doing your best, they will see that you’re worth trusting.

10. You’re Incompetent:

Incompetency is the biggest loophole in any employee-employer relationship.

Your boss would be hesitant to give you essential tasks. Instead, they would give it to someone they think is more capable of doing it.

Thus, if you want to prove that you’re competent, it’s essential to:

– Do your best in everything you do.

– Show that you’re willing to learn new things. 

11. You’re Lazy:

Being a slacker makes it hard to gain your boss’s trust.

They would instead give essential tasks to someone who is more hardworking and diligent.

To avoid being seen as lazy, it’s essential to:

– Do your best in everything you do.

– Finish your tasks on time.

– Don’t take unnecessary breaks.

– Avoid procrastination.

12. You’re Not Confident:

If you’re not confident, you don’t believe in your abilities. This would make your boss hesitant to give you essential tasks or responsibilities.

To gain confidence:

– Set realistic goals for yourself.

– Acknowledge your successes.

– Learn from your failures.

– Visualize yourself as a successful person.

13. You Have A Bad Work Ethic:

If you have a terrible work ethic, you’re not dedicated to your work. No boss would want to trust someone who is not devoted to their job.

Lousy work ethics can pose many issues such as:

– Poor relationship with coworkers

– Poor work quality.

– Not meeting deadlines.

– Unprofessionalism.

Follow company rules and regulations and be professional in dealings with your boss.

14. You’re Not Responsible:

Being irresponsible is the essential con of any employee’s personality. It’s hard to trust someone who is not responsible.

You get to show your boss that you’re responsible by:

– Doing your best in everything you do.

– Meeting deadlines.

– Being accountable for your actions.

If you want to earn your boss’s trust, it’s essential to be responsible in everything you do.

15. You’re Disruptive:

Being disruptive shows that you’re not focused on your work. It also shows that you don’t respect the authority of your boss.

This can take the form of:

– Talking back to your boss.

– Disrespecting company rules and regulations.

– Making jokes during serious meetings.

Now that we know the different reasons why my boss doesn’t trust me, it’s time to take action.

Why Do You Want Your Boss To Trust You?

The first step to gaining your boss’s trust is to figure out why you want their trust.

Are you looking for a promotion? Do you want more responsibilities? Or do you want a better relationship with your boss?

Whatever the reason may be, it’s essential to understand why you want their trust.

This will help you know what actions to take to gain their trust.

Action Plan – Gain Your Boss’s Trust

Once you’ve figured out why you want your boss’s trust, it’s time to create an action plan.

1. Identify The Problem:

The first step is to identify the problem. Why doesn’t your boss trust you?

Is it because of something you did in the past? Or is it because of the way you act around them?

Once you’ve identified the problem, it will be easier for you to take action and fix the issue. 

2. Take Action:

The next step is to take action. This will involve making some changes in your behavior or attitude.

For example, you might need to start being more responsible or hardworking.

Or you might need to start being more communicative and more respectful.

3. Be Patient & Consistent:

Finally, it would help if you were patient and consistent. Gaining trust takes time.

It would help if you showed your boss that you’re sincere in your efforts to gain their trust.

And it would help if you were consistent in your behavior.

What If You Tried Everything But…

Despite your best efforts, there are some bosses who will never trust you.

This could be because of their own personal issues or because of the way they see you.

If this is the case, it might be best to look for a new job.

A job where your boss will trust you and where you can be happy and successful.

Conclusion:

Bosses are like any other human being. They want to be able to trust the people they work with.

There can be many reasons why a boss doesn’t trust you.

If you want to gain your boss’s trust, be responsible, respectful, and hardworking.

It’s also essential to clearly understand why you want their trust.

Last Updated on 7 months by Shahzaib Arshad