Written by Sue Dyer, Founder, IPI

In construction, adversarial relationships can quietly undermine even the most well-planned projects. When teams default to contract clauses and legal safeguards instead of open collaboration, costs rise and schedules slip. However, empirical research from the Construction Industry Institute (CII) and International Partnering Institute (IPI), clearly demonstrates that high levels of trust within a project team directly correlate to lower project costs. By focusing on building and maintaining trust, project leaders can unlock smoother workflows, faster issue resolution, and a more positive working environment. 

Why Trust Matters 

Trust isn’t mere “feel-good” rhetoric; it’s a measurable driver of project performance. CII’s RP24‐1 study shows a distinct cost/trust relationship: as trust increases, total project cost decreases. Conversely, low trust is a leading indicator of budget overruns and delays. In other words, teams that rely on fair dealings, transparent communication, and reliable follow-through generate more predictable outcomes and reduce the need for costly reword and dispute resolution. 

Be Unwaveringly Trustworthy 

Even if past events have eroded your confidence in certain teammates, you can always take responsibility for your own trustworthiness. Make “your word is your bond” a guiding principle. For example: if you commit to completing a submittal review by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, be there on time. Small, consistent deposits into your team members’ “trust accounts” build credibility faster than grand gestures ever could. Over time, those deposits create a reservoir that helps weather the occasional misunderstanding or schedule hiccup. 

Monitor Your Trust Account 

Trust isn’t static, every interaction either makes a deposit or a withdrawal. If you sense that your willingness to trust a colleague is waning, don’t let frustration fester. Have an open, respectful conversation.  Ask simple questions: “I noticed that this change order came in later than expected. Can you share what happened?” A brief dialogue can clear up misconceptions, prevent resentment, and get everyone back on the same page. 

Assessing Project Trust Levels 

To keep trust front and center, invite the team to evaluate where the project currently stands. Consider these three starter questions (integrated into a brief round-table exercise or a safety-style “toolbox talk”): 

1. How would you rate overall trust on this project? (1 = Distrust, 5 = Very Trusting) 
2. In which areas have you seen trust at its highest? Why? 
3. What practical steps can you take to improve trust—either personally or as a group? 

Encourage team members to share concrete examples (“I felt fully confident when the subcontractor delivered materials a day early”) as well as areas needing improvement (“We need better clarity around scope changes because last week’s shift caught us off guard”). 

Suggestions for Reinforcing Trust 

• Leader-Driven Modeling: Project leaders should openly demonstrate trust (e.g., delegating tasks, soliciting input, acknowledging mistakes). Visibility of this behavior encourages others to mirror it. 

• Regular Check-Ins: Schedule brief weekly “trust check” sessions, either in person or via video call, where each discipline reports one thing going well and one risk point requiring collaboration. 

• Document and Celebrate Successes: When trust-based approaches resolve issues faster or under budget, highlight those achievements at milestone meetings. This reinforces positive behavior. 

• Partnering Workshops: Host periodic Partnering workshops to foster effective communication, active listening, and conflict resolution to get the team aligned so momentum can grow and the more trust you build the faster you will go. 

For project leaders seeking to deepen their skills, the IPI Project Leader Certification Training teaches how to create and grow a culture of trust equipping leaders with proven frameworks, role-playing exercises, and real-world case studies to embed trust into every phase of a project. 

By elevating trust to a proactive focus, rather than waiting for disputes to arise, project teams can foster a collaborative culture that translates into tangible cost savings, schedule reliability, and a more engaged workforce.