This study seeks to improve the contributions of performance consultants, instructional design consultants, and training consultants by explaining the effect that several variables have on trust as a mediator to relationship commitment within the context of the client-consultant relationship. The participants were 228 college students from two 4-year universities. Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight scenario-based questionnaires that measured the effect of three manipulated variables--perceived level of expertise, shared values, and sharing of meaningful information--on trust as a mediator to relationship commitment. The findings suggest that consultants can proactively manage the relationships with their clients by focusing on the key factors that influence trust and thus ultimately affect overall relationship commitment. (Contains 12 tables and 2 figures.)