Trust is a funny thing in professional relationships.

In my visual work, I’ve had all sorts of clients. All sorts of jobs. All sorts of engagements.

Books (due out in November)

Murals (rooftop)

Massive corporate events (150 ft of artwork)

Strategic planning sessions

Live sketching for talks and podcasts

And obviously, daily quotes

You name it, I’ve drawn for it. (Not really, but it’s fun to say at least.)

The point being, over the last six years, I’ve prided myself on being able to take on all manner of visual work. If you need it drawn, I want to think I’m your guy.

But on the other side of all these jobs is almost always someone else with their own goal for the venture.

A book published.

A mural for the office.

Corporate communication that actually connects.

A visual record that captures what matters.

While the art, delivery, medium, and approach might vary wildly from project to project, I’ve discovered something consistent:

The best work always comes when that person, or that team, trusts themselves.

Not trusts me. Trusts themselves to trust me and to trust others.

Making Trust Possible

When someone trusts themselves enough to trust the professional they went out and hired, the work benefits. No doubt about it.

Being clear about what you want doesn’t always mean a perfect vision of the final product, but what they need it to accomplish.

They hired someone because they’ve seen the work. Now they let that person do it.

These clients give professionals the conditions needed to create something meaningful.

Clear scope. Room to think. Freedom to make decisions.

To do good work, it’s really about those conditions.

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The best collaborations happen when both sides understand their role.

The client knows their goal. The pro knows their craft. Trust is what lets each party do their part without constant justification or second-guessing.

It’s not that these clients are hands-off or uninvolved. They’re deeply invested.

But their investment shows up as clarity, not control.

They trust the process because they trust themselves to have made a good choice.

When that trust exists, everything gets quieter. The work flows. Then it’s collaboration instead of negotiation.

The Conditions for Trust

Trust isn’t just handed over [willy nilly]. It’s created through clarity.

When you hire someone, whether it’s for visual facilitation, strategy work, or any professional service, ask yourself:

Am I trusting myself enough to trust them?

Am I creating conditions for their best work, or am I managing every detail because I’m uncertain?

And on the flip side, when you’re the professional being hired:

Are you setting clear conditions that make good work possible?

Are you asking for what you need, or accepting terms that undermine the craft?

Clarity is what makes trust possible on both sides.

In my sketch work, I’ve seen this play out hundreds of times. The projects that sing are the ones where both sides are clear. Clear scope. Clear expectations. Clear trust that each person will do their part.

This applies beyond professional work too. In any relationship - creative partnerships, family dynamics, community involvement - trust grows where clarity exists.

The conditions you create determine the work you get. And the trust you build determines whether those conditions hold.

If you’re struggling with a professional relationship right now, maybe ask:

Is the trust missing, or is the clarity missing?

Because most of the time, it’s the second one. And that’s fixable.

Grateful you are here,

Wade

PS - Would love to hear who you work with that you trust. Can be anyone. Consultant. Co-worker. That plumber who can fix anything. Let's hear it!