Trust in leadership is crumbling, dropping from 46% in 2022 to just 29% in 2025. That’s not just a trend; it’s a crisis. Because building trust as a leader isn’t optional – it’s essential. Without it, communication breaks down, accountability weakens, and even the most capable teams lose momentum.
But here’s the good news: trust is a skill. One that’s built through presence, empathy, and the quality of your everyday conversations. In this post, we’ll explore how leaders can move beyond surface-level engagement to create a culture of trust that drives real results.
Trust Begins with the Leader
When leaders consistently show up with clarity, consistency, and care, teams notice. Trust grows when people feel seen, heard, and valued. Not just for what they do, but for who they are!
That trust deepens with every moment of follow-through. When leaders do what they say they’ll do. When expectations are clear. When feedback is timely and respectful.
Leaders who show up for their teams in these ways build trust. And that trust creates space for innovation, collaboration, and real accountability.
Elevating the Quality of Conversation
Did you know… not all conversations are created equal?
Some inform, some persuade, and some transform!
Developing Conversational Intelligence is essential for developing leadership, and understanding the 3 levels of conversation is the start!
🗨️ Level 1: Transactional – simply exchanging information. Great for training, updates, or a quick need-to-know. Trust is not built at this level.
🗨️ Level 2: Positional – more interactive, but still focused on advocating your perspective. You’re listening, but mostly to respond and convince someone you’re right. Conditional trust lives here.
🗨️ Level 3: Transformational – the gold standard. These conversations are mutual, curious, and built on trust. You co-create, explore, and uncover what’s possible together. This is where sustainable trust is created.
The truth is, if we want to build stronger teams, better outcomes, and a healthier work culture, we can’t stay at level 1 or 2 conversations.
Level 3 is where the connection is created! It’s where trust grows, and where leadership thrives.
Leaders who stay stuck at Levels I or II often miss what their teams really need. But when you move into Level III conversations, trust takes root.
These are the moments when people feel safe to share, to disagree, and to grow.
And when teams operate with that level of openness? Performance follows!
Leaning Into the Hard Conversations
Of course, not every conversation leader needs to have is easy. But avoiding difficult conversations doesn’t preserve trust. It erodes it.
Leaders build credibility when they lean into discomfort with empathy. When they address challenges directly, without blame. When they prioritize honesty and growth over comfort and avoidance.
During conversations, leaders should:
- Be present. Avoid interrupting or retreating, and just stay engaged to truly hear the other person.
- Look for shared ground. Starting from shared values or common goals creates a foundation of trust.
- Be clear and kind. Body language can say a lot to someone else. Be mindful of your tone, your words, and your energy. They shape the conversation just as much as your message.
- Make understanding your objective. Let go of trying to win, and realize that we don’t need to agree to understand, but understanding is how we build trust.
Hard conversations are part of leadership. But when we lead them with empathy and presence, they become less about conflict and more about connection!
Remember, trust isn’t built in perfect conditions. It’s built in the hard moments when you choose courage over silence.
Create Trust Through Appreciation
79% – that’s how many people leave their jobs because they don’t feel appreciated!
That number should stop us in our tracks. At the heart of it all, people just want to feel seen, valued, and acknowledged. And that’s where intentional meetings come in.
Team meetings and one-on-one check-ins aren’t just for updates and tasks. They’re powerful spaces to connect on a human level.
They offer opportunities to say: I see you. I appreciate you.
✔️ Team meetings are a chance to celebrate collective wins and spotlight individual contributions in front of the group. It builds trust. It fuels belonging.
✔️ One-on-ones are the perfect space to listen deeply, recognize effort, and offer a heartfelt thank you that actually means something.
Strong leadership lives in these everyday moments. More than a strategy, it’s about making people feel like they matter!
Small moments of acknowledgment go a long way. They create emotional safety, encourage contribution, and strengthen connection.
And when people feel appreciated, they show up differently. They speak up. They stay engaged. They lead from where they are.
Trust is the foundation that allows everything else to grow.
It’s not built in a single moment, but in the moments that happen every day.
In how you communicate.
In how you lead through challenges.
In how you acknowledge the people around you.
Trust doesn’t just support leadership – it needs to define it.
Would you like to unlock the power of trust and build a more connected team? Learn practical strategies in my People-First Culture Framework E-Book! Download your copy here.
