Let’s be real, trust doesn’t magically appear just because we wish for it. But when it’s there? Everything changes. Teams in high-trust workplaces feel 74% less stress, bring 106% more energy to the job, and get 50% more done — all while feeling 76% more engaged than their peers in low-trust environments. If you’re a city manager trying to lead people through the daily challenges of local government, trust isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s the bedrock that decides whether your team thrives or just gets by.

Your city and county teams depend on trust for everything they accomplish. Think about those sports teams that consistently outperform competitors despite having less raw talent. They win because trust creates the cohesion that turns individual efforts into collective power.

Here’s a truth, only 38% of employees in the United States fully trust their CEO and leadership team. Without trust, your best strategies crumble, innovation dies, and your organization grinds to a halt. This reality hits especially hard in local government, where public service and community impact hang in the balance.

But here’s what makes your role unique: municipal leadership offers opportunities to build trust that private sector managers can only dream about. Your team members chose public service for reasons beyond a paycheck – they want to make a difference in their communities. That shared purpose gives you a powerful foundation for building the trust that transforms good teams into great ones.

Building trust with your team requires intentional effort, particularly when citizens are watching and community needs demand your absolute best.

For over 35 years, John Herrera , President and CEO of MuniTemps, has dedicated his career to helping cities strengthen trust and accountability through expert municipal finance and leadership consulting. This article draws on that experience to support local government leaders and employees in developing a long-term plan for building and sustaining workplace trust.

Why Trust Matters in Local Government Teams

Local government teams face challenges that make trust more than just a nice idea – it’s your lifeline. Government Leadership Solutions’ 2023 study confirmed what many city managers already know: trust is the biggest issue facing local governments today. This isn’t just academic theory – it directly affects your ability to serve your community effectively.

Think about it this way, public institutions survive or die based on the trust that citizens place in them. When community engagement runs strong and trust levels stay high, you create a powerful cycle where public officials and community members work together to solve real problems. But when trust breaks down? Every initiative becomes an uphill battle.

The numbers tell the story. Municipal teams with high trust report 50% higher productivity and 13% fewer sick days than those struggling with trust issues. Research confirms what experienced city managers know: teams that trust each other hit their goals more consistently, even when other factors like leadership trust vary.

Let’s face it, without internal trust, even your best policies face resistance. Simple budget approvals drag on for weeks as council members demand detailed justifications for every line item. Worse yet, employees start hoarding information and resources because they don’t feel safe sharing them, making your decision-making slower and less effective.

Trust matters most in teams with high interdependence – exactly the situation in most municipal departments. This becomes critical when you’re implementing policies that require citizens’ cooperation and compliance. Stephen M.R. Covey puts it perfectly: “change happens at the speed of trust,” while declining trust increases costs through what he calls the “low trust tax”.

Are you struggling to attract and retain skilled professionals? The ability to recruit talent – the second most significant challenge for local government – connects directly to public trust. Talented individuals often choose private sector roles over public entities struggling with trust issues.

Your team’s trust level determines everything else you hope to accomplish as a city manager. Without it, your best strategies remain just good intentions on paper.

Building Trust Through Communication and Collaboration

Communication isn’t just about talking , it’s about building bridges that connect your team members to each other and to your shared mission. Research shows that different city departments often address urgent challenges but still work in silos. Those invisible walls between departments don’t just slow down projects – they destroy the trust that makes everything else possible.

Think of open communication as the foundation of your trust-building efforts. You can’t build a strong house on shaky ground, and you can’t build team trust without transparent, consistent communication. Successful city-county collaborations consistently feature transparent processes that provide visibility across multiple stakeholders. When employees from different areas gain better understanding of each other’s roles, cross-departmental collaboration promotes a culture of trust.

Are you ready to tear down those communication barriers? Here’s your roadmap:

1. Establish shared norms for working together – frame things positively and address issues as they arise
2. Create a regular cadence of meetings to maintain constant, open communication
3. Align city and county staff counterparts to build camaraderie and streamline workflows
4. Start with small, easy projects to build trusting relationships before tackling systemic challenges

Plain language matters more than you might think. When communicating with your team, remember that jargon creates barriers – 91% of survey respondents preferred professionals who communicated without specialized terminology. People perceived those who used less jargon as more caring, empathetic, and approachable. Your team needs clarity, not complexity.

Digital tools offer powerful opportunities for enhancing transparency. Many municipalities successfully use online platforms to disclose project information, publish emergency contracts as open data, and enable citizens to submit ideas. But here’s the key: actively listen to your team members – all effective local government managers share the ability to develop relationships through communication.

Remember that collaboration across departments brings different perspectives to the table. This diversity of viewpoints leads to more well-rounded decision-making. Building trust through communication requires consistent practice rather than occasional effort. Each conversation represents another opportunity to strengthen the bonds that hold your team together.

Team-Level Actions to Strengthen Trust

Leadership sets the tone, but trust gets built in the trenches of daily teamwork. Your municipal departments need specific, actionable strategies that create an environment where team members feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best work. These aren’t just nice-to-have policies – they’re the building blocks that determine whether your team thrives or merely survives.

Create psychological safety through vulnerability

Think of psychological safety as the foundation that supports everything else your team accomplishes. When employees feel safe to speak up and share ideas, trust among team members increases dramatically. Leaders who model vulnerability encourage others to be open about challenges, ultimately identifying roadblocks early and preventing costly delays.

Vulnerability feels uncomfortable. Yet it’s precisely this openness that builds the stronger connections your municipal team needs to tackle complex community challenges.

Address workplace gossip proactively

Unchecked gossip doesn’t just create drama – it destroys the trust you’ve worked so hard to build. Workplace rumors can disrupt culture, damage professional relationships, and undermine your authority as a team leader. The solution? Promote open communication where employees discuss issues directly with each other, reducing the need for rumors.

Consider implementing team building activities that require cooperation – these effectively encourage staff to trust each other and resolve conflicts. When people work together toward shared goals, gossip loses its power to divide.

Celebrate progress and recognize contributions

Your team members chose public service to make a difference. Are you showing them that difference matters? Acknowledging both small and large accomplishments reminds teams of their impact and reinforces shared goals. Recognition proves most meaningful when it comes from managers, although the happiest teams thrive in environments where appreciation flows freely across all levels.

Celebrating small wins boosts confidence and maintains motivation during challenging projects. Remember, every budget approved, every citizen served, every problem solved represents progress worth acknowledging.

Foster meaningful personal connections

Here’s something many city managers overlook: taking time to understand individual team members makes a significant difference in how effectively a municipality functions. Research confirms that the relationship between employees and supervisors directly impacts job satisfaction and organizational commitment. People are more likely to stay when they feel respected, connected, and seen.

This isn’t about becoming best friends with your staff – it’s about creating genuine professional relationships that help your team perform at their highest level.

Your municipal team has the potential to achieve extraordinary things for your community. These team-level actions create the environment where trust flourishes naturally, enabling your people to deliver the excellent public service your citizens deserve.

The Foundation for Municipal Excellence

Trust transforms good teams into great ones. Throughout this guide, we’ve explored the specific strategies that turn your municipal team into a powerhouse of public service. City managers who prioritize trust-building see their teams experience less stress, higher energy, and dramatically improved productivity.

Your municipal team faces challenges that private sector managers never encounter. Public scrutiny, budget constraints, and the weight of community expectations create a unique environment where trust becomes your most valuable asset. Without it, even your best policies hit roadblocks, and talented professionals walk away from public service entirely.

Think of trust as the foundation of everything you build as a city manager. Just like you wouldn’t construct a municipal building on unstable ground, you can’t create lasting team success without the solid foundation that trust provides. Your communication strategies break down departmental silos. Your team-level actions create psychological safety. Your leadership sets the tone for everything that follows.

The path forward requires consistent action rather than occasional effort. Trust takes time to build, but the rewards extend far beyond your immediate team – stronger operations, better community service, and the deep satisfaction that comes from leading people who believe in their mission and each other.

Are you ready to build the kind of municipal team that citizens can count on? The strategies in this guide give you practical steps to start strengthening trust today. Your community depends on your ability to lead cohesive, high-functioning teams that deliver excellent public service.

Remember that your investment in workplace trust creates ripple effects that reach every corner of your community. When your team trusts each other, they serve citizens better. When they serve citizens better, public trust in government grows. That’s the kind of legacy worth building.

Your municipal team has the potential to become something extraordinary. Trust is the bridge that takes you there.

Building on the practical insights in this article, John Herrera, CPA, encourages all municipal leaders and employees to set clear goals for building trust in their teams and organizations. Doing so strengthens collaboration, enhances performance, and reinforces the public’s trust in government.

Contact our team at jobs@munitemps.com or visit our website at www.munitemps.com to learn more.

MuniTemps remains your trusted partner in “all things municipal” — from staffing and recruitment to creating meaningful career pathways for professionals who value serving their local communities.

For more practical strategies, visit the MuniTemps CitySpeak YouTube channel and revisit video blogs from the past five years that share proven, common-sense approaches for conservative, long-term financial and organizational planning. You may also want to watch the video titled “What Recession Feels Like at City Hall.” for actionable ideas on navigating economic downturns in local government.

Thank you for joining us in building stronger, trust-based teams that serve our communities with excellence!