There’s no denying it, trust is the cornerstone of any successful personal or professional relationship. Building trust through better communication is key to creating and maintaining strong relationships with those around you. 1
But how exactly do you do it? In this article, we’ll discuss why trust is so important, the steps to build trust through better communication, and how to maintain it once it’s established.
Are communication problems getting in the way of your relationship? Learn how effective communication can help create and maintain a strong bond with your partner.
Communication and its impact on trust
Trust is essential in any relationship, but it’s especially so in romantic relationships. Trust is necessary to ensure that your partner is honest and reliable or has your best interests in mind. This can lead to insecurity, fear, and even resentment towards the other person. 2
But building rapport and trust requires mutual effort—and good communication is the foundation. Communicating effectively with your partner creates a space where both parties feel heard and understood.
This takes the guesswork out of interactions and encourages transparency, which helps build trust. Open dialogue also allows each person to express their needs and feelings without feeling judged or attacked. 3
Learn how to build strong connections through open communication. Discover effective strategies for fostering meaningful relationships.
When couples practice effective communication, they tend to feel a greater connection and understanding of each other. This feeling of safety and security is what strengthens trust in the relationship.
Common communication issues that affect trust
Breaking trust is easy, but it takes a lot of work to build it back up. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the common communication issues that can lead to decreased trust. 4
Here are some of the most communication issues that can lead to a breakdown in trust:
- Withholding information: When one person purposefully withholds important information from the other, it creates a feeling of disconnect and mistrust.
- Making assumptions: Making assumptions about how your partner feels or what they want without asking them first can be dangerous. This behavior can make it seem like you don’t value your partner’s opinion or feelings.
- Playing the blame game: No one likes to be blamed for something they didn’t do. This behavior can lead to feelings of guilt and resentment, which can erode trust in the relationship.
When building trust through better communication, be aware of these issues and work together to address them. Communication is a two-way street, and it takes both partners to create an environment of openness and understanding.
9 Tips to build trust through better communication
Building trust takes effort, but having a strong, healthy relationship is worth it. Below are some tips to help you build trust through better communication in your romantic relationships:
1. Make time for meaningful conversations
Take time each day to have meaningful conversations with your partner. Ask open-ended questions and listen to their answers and withhold judgment.
Your questions don’t have to be deep or philosophical; something as simple as “How was your day?” or “What are you looking forward to this weekend?” helps create an environment of openness and understanding.
2. Communicate your needs and feelings
Be honest and direct when communicating your needs and feelings. This helps ensure that each person is heard and understood without any guesswork. 5
Of course, this won’t be easy every time. Sometimes, our fears or insecurities can get in the way. But try to remind yourself that it’s important to express your needs and feelings for the relationship to grow instead of resenting your partner for not being a mind reader.
Want to build a strong romantic relationship? Embrace open communication and learn essential tips to foster trust and intimacy with your partner.
3. Pay attention to nonverbal cues
While you may not realize it all the time, nonverbal cues like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice make up a large part of communication. Cues like making eye contact or leaning in when someone is speaking can make them feel heard and understood. 6
Does your partner raise their voice when they’re feeling frustrated? Do they look away when you’re talking to them? Pay attention to these cues and be mindful of how you’re responding.
4. Make an effort to understand each other
Take time to really try and understand your partner’s point of view, or practice perspective taking — looking at the situation from their perspective. This is crucial in building trust and empathy. 7
If you find yourself getting defensive or feeling attacked, remind yourself of why you’re having this conversation in the first place. It’s okay to disagree and be honest about your feelings, but staying focused on the ultimate goal of understanding each other is important.
5. Apologize and forgive
It’s inevitable that mistakes will be made during a relationship. Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes.
When something goes wrong or someone gets hurt, getting over it is one of the most challenging tasks in any relationship. This is where apologizing and forgiveness come into play. Apologizing when you’re wrong shows that you value your partner and their feelings, which can help to build trust. 8
The same goes for when you’re receiving an apology—forgiveness is key to establishing trust. This doesn’t mean you have to forget what happened, but it does mean that you’re willing to let go of the resentment and move on.
6. Avoid distractions during conversations
It’s easy to get distracted by your phone or the TV when you’re having a conversation with your partner, but this can make them feel like they’re not being heard or taken seriously. And this can lead to feelings of mistrust and prevent a healthy dialogue from forming. 9
Try to limit your distractions when you’re having an important conversation with your partner. Put away any digital devices and focus your attention on them instead.
Staying present in the moment and avoiding distractions can be difficult, especially in this age of technology, but it’s possible. Stay connected in the digital age with these powerful communication exercises for couples, foster deeper emotional intimacy and trust.
7. Build emotional intimacy
Intimacy doesn’t just extend to physical touch or sex—it also includes emotional intimacy. This is when two people feel comfortable sharing their feelings and trusting that the other person won’t judge or criticize them. 10
When building emotional intimacy, practicing active listening and validation is important instead of giving advice. This helps foster understanding and closeness between partners, which can lead to increased trust.
Want to build emotional intimacy? Discover how eye contact can deepen your connection with your partner.
8. Support each other’s growth
Challenge each other to be the best versions of themselves. Support each other in making changes that will lead to personal growth and development—this can help build a strong trust foundation.
For example, if your partner wants to learn a new language or take up a hobby, encourage them and be there to support them. This shows that you value their goals, which can help to build trust in the relationship.
9. Set shared goals
Building trust involves setting shared goals and working together to achieve them. This could be something simple like taking a cooking class together or something more significant like saving up for a house.
No matter what it is, setting shared goals and working together to achieve them can help to foster mutual understanding and trust. It’s a great way to remind each other that you’re in it together and have each other’s back.
By being aware of these issues and working together to address them, couples can build trust through better communication. It takes effort, but it’s worth it to have a strong, healthy relationship.
Open communication breeds happiness. Master the art of communication in relationships with these essential techniques.
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Kim, P. H., Cooper, C. D., Dirks, K. T., and Ferrin, D. L. (2013). Repairing trust with individuals vs. groups. Org. Behav. Hum. Decis. Processes 120, 1–14. ↩︎
Long, E. C. J., Angera, J. J., Carter, S. J., Nakamoto, M., & Kalso, M. (1999). Understanding the One You Love: A Longitudinal Assessment of an Empathy Training Program for Couples in Romantic Relationships. Family Relations, 48(3), 235. doi.org ↩︎
Frantz, C. M., & Bennigson, C. (2005). Better late than early: The influence of timing on apology effectiveness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41(2), 201–207. doi.org ↩︎
Amichai-Hamburger, Y., & Etgar, S. (2016). Intimacy and smartphone multitasking—a new oxymoron?. Psychological reports, 119(3), 826-838. ↩︎
Sels, L., Ceulemans, E., Bulteel, K., & Kuppens, P. (2016). Emotional Interdependence and Well-Being in Close Relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. ↩︎
Amy Clark
Amy Clark is a freelance writer who writes about relationships, marriage, and family. She has been happily married for over ten years and loves her husband and three kids. Before …
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