Here's how you can foster rapport and trust with your boss.

Leading projects and demonstrating dedication to company goals, like by exploring sustainable materials or proposing innovative design solutions, can significantly impress your boss and establish you as a valuable and proactive team member.

As a leader of people it is so great to see the people you lead taking on board sustainability values of the company, and when they show initiative and their own leadership here it is definitely noticed. Sometimes I feel like I am beating a drum that is noiseless. When team members hear and respond and then turn around and do it better and with more passion that I am, I am so proud and you can not help but take notice.

Effective communication is key to a strong relationship with your boss. Keep them updated on your progress and challenges, and clearly explain complex details to build trust and demonstrate reliability.

Communication is the basis for success with any relationship. This does not mean becoming a yes person, having opinions and views are important as relationships are a two way street. I value relationships where people contibute and advise on both the positive and the negative - seeing that people are learning and growing from their experiences is impactful and valuable

Respecting your boss’s time by knowing when to seek help or handle issues independently shows that you value their time and can manage tasks effectively.

Regularly seeking feedback shows your commitment to growth and excellence, helping you improve and build trust, especially in projects like green buildings or energy-saving initiatives.

Design is never a one person journey, there are always influencing parties - from the client to contractors. Even more afield it can be mentors or colleagues that maybe are not involved in the design but are their for support in the challenging times. Acknowledgement of all involved empowers everyone. When people are acknowledged it supports their wanting to assist again in the future either to you or others - consider it like paying it forward.

Acknowledging others' contributions in collaborative fields like environmental design demonstrates your appreciation for teamwork and can build trust and rapport with your boss. Sharing credit for successful projects highlights your humility and focus on collective success.

Consistency breeds reliability and trust - nothing more important in the success of projects and a career trajectory. If I could ask anything from my team it would be consistency. If you are consistent you will get more opportunities.