How I Build Trust Fast as a Fractional Exec
Trust isn’t built by titles or frameworks, it’s built by paying attention early.
How I Build Trust Fast as a Fractional Exec
Lesson: Trust Is the First Job
Parachuting into a company as a fractional exec is hard. Expectations are high, timelines are compressed, and people want results fast. What I’ve learned though is that trust has to come before transformation. Early on, I prioritize relationships, getting to know people beyond the surface, understanding how they think, what they care about, and how they operate. And giving benefit of the doubt and a learner’s mindset. When urgency is extreme, you can jump straight into execution, but even then, trust needs to be built in parallel.
Insight: Speed Comes From Understanding People, Not Just the Business
- Relationships Create Runway - When people feel seen and understood, they give you more patience and flexibility to do the work that actually matters.
- Learn the Ceiling and the Floor - Knowing what makes someone proud versus what shuts them down helps you operate inside their value system, not against it.
- Trust Expands Scope - The faster you understand people’s bandwidth and tolerance, the faster you can increase your impact without overwhelming the team.
Trust isn’t built by titles or frameworks, it’s built by paying attention early.
Action Item: Build Trust in the First 30 Days
- Schedule One-on-Ones Immediately: Go beyond roles and responsibilities, ask what energizes and frustrates them.
- Map Values and Triggers: Learn what success feels like to them and what creates stress or resistance.
- Deliver One Early Win: Show momentum quickly while staying aligned with how the team works.
If you like this content you can watch the video version of this.
Also, Young was featured as a guest on the podcast Off the Books, in the episode “Off the Books - Episode - A Serial Entrepreneur's Pursuit of Happiness with Young Han”. Don’t miss it!
