8 Signs Your Boss Doesn't Trust You (And What to Do About It)

1. Micromanaging

One of the clearest signs that your boss doesn't trust you is incessant micromanaging. If they're always looking over your shoulder, questioning every decision you make, or checking in on task progress more often than necessary, they likely have doubts about your abilities.

Employees who are micromanaged often feel undermined and less confident in their work. After all, it's hard to perform at your best if you feel like you're constantly being watched.

If you're dealing with micromanaging, take a step back and consider the situation. Is there something in your recent work performance or behavior that might've caused your boss to start hawking you?

If not, you can spark an open conversation with your boss, express how their management style makes you feel, and ask how processes can be changed to give you a bit more independence.

2. Your Suggestions Are Ignored

Next, if you regularly offer up ideas or suggestions in the office and your boss quickly dismisses or completely overlooks them, it might suggest that they don't trust your judgment or value your input.

If you believe you're not being taken seriously and your experience is being disregarded, you can have a one-on-one conversation with your boss. Make it clear that you'd like to contribute by saying something like, "I noticed some of my suggestions haven't been taken into consideration, and I'd appreciate feedback on how I can better align my ideas with your vision moving forward."

3. You're Overlooked For Projects And Promotions

Have important projects or big promotions consistently passed you by? It may indicate that your boss doesn't trust you to handle the increased responsibility.

Being left out of assignments or opportunities to climb the corporate ladder is discouraging and can make employees feel as if their skills or potential are underappreciated.

Now, it's possible your boss genuinely isn't aware that you're interested in taking on more. Either way, it's best to talk about your career goals with your boss and let them know you're eager to contribute more and grow with your company.

4. You're Kept In The Dark

Many people have had the dreaded experience of not being invited to a classmate's birthday party in elementary school. Being kept in the dark at the office is a similar feeling.

Do you often find yourself being taken by surprise at work, whether by personnel changes, brand-new projects, or meetings you weren't invited to? When you're left out of key conversations and excluded from any decision-making, it could mean your boss questions your ability to handle information or believes you don't need to know what's going on.

In this scenario, the best thing you can do is address the issue head-on. Show that you'd like to be more involved in decision-making processes by telling your boss something like, "I'd really appreciate being included in important discussions as I believe I can contribute valuable insights."

5. You Feel Isolated In The Office

Aside from the boardroom, companies tend to have their own social culture. So, you may be getting left out of casual office conversations, team activities, or informal gatherings, like happy hour drinks on Fridays.

If your boss is the person behind your exclusion, it may signal that they aren't comfortable inviting you into their inner office circle. This alienation can lead you to feel alone and make it difficult to forge better relationships with your overall team.

You can try to bridge the gap by asking your boss for more collaborative work opportunities or planning after-hours get-togethers for your team on your own.

6. You're Not Allowed To Take Initiative

Another red flag that your boss doesn't trust your abilities or judgment is if you're required to ask for permission before taking any action.

It can be incredibly limiting to personal and professional growth when you're not given the freedom to take initiative because you always have to receive direct orders or wait for approval on your next move. Don't be afraid to have a transparent conversation with your boss about the lack of autonomy in your current role and ask for ways to show them that you're capable of acting independently.

7. You Are Never Given Feedback

It's easy to feel uncertain about where you stand in your role if you've never been given any feedback. Your boss might doubt your ability to handle constructive criticism or doesn't have faith that you can better your performance with their comments.

To handle this, take the initiative and ask for regular feedback from your boss directly, whether that's on a monthly or quarterly basis. You can phrase the request like, "I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on my recent projects so I can keep improving."

8. You're Frequently Criticized

Finally, in contrast to never receiving feedback, you might have a boss who never stops criticizing your work. Not only can this leave you questioning your skills, but it can be unmotivating, making you feel as if it's impossible to make your boss happy.

You'll have to determine if your boss' ongoing concerns are valid or not. And regardless of what you believe, you should have a serious conversation with them.

Ask your boss for specific examples of what needs improvement, as well as steps you can take to meet their expectations. Showing that you're receptive to their feedback and actively looking for ways to work together on boosting your performance can help rebuild some trust.