Building Trust as a Leader

Episode Highlights: Building Trust as a Leader

Join Des and Susannah in the studio as they discuss why trust is the foundation of effective leadership and how you can build it:

• Trust is the Foundation of Leadership

Why trust is essential for feedback, creativity, and organisational adaptability. Without it, even the best strategies or technologies struggle to gain traction.

• Why Trust Enables Change

Trust allows people to engage with change, take risks, and follow leaders with vision, which is critical for any transformation effort.

• Building Trust is a Process, Not a Given

Trust isn’t automatic. It’s fragile, built over time, and easily lost. Leaders earn it through honesty, integrity, competence, and care.

• Self-Orientation: The Hidden Trust Killer

Leaders must recognise self-orientation; the focus on “me” over “we.” Low self-orientation builds trust, while high self-orientation undermines it.

• Credibility, Reliability, and Intimacy in Practice

Breaking down each component of the trust equation: competence, consistent action, emotional security, empathy, and vulnerability combine to strengthen trust over time.

• Applying the Trust Equation Every Day

Understanding and practising the components of trust helps regulate your responses in meetings, client engagements, and high-pressure situations, ensuring your best self shows up.