Core Concepts: The Self-Aware Leadership Compass #5 - Trust
Knowing Self-Aware Leadership Minimalistical
Hello KSKOers
Welcome to today’s Knowing Self-Aware Leadership minimalistical!
The first nine Knowing Self-Aware Leadership blog articles of 2025 are exclusive extracts from my book, The Self-Awareness Superhighway, focused on the nine directions of the self-aware leadership compass. Here’s the minimalistical all about trust. You can read the full article here.
Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!
Trust
“Leadership is the relentless pursuit of truth and ceaseless creation of trust.” Jack Welch
The core concepts from the article are:
Trust is Earned, Not Declared: You can’t just say, “Hey, trust me!” Trust is built through your actions, not your words. It’s how people see you, not how you see yourself. A trustworthy reputation isn’t your decision.
Be Consistent and Stay True to Your Values: If you want people to trust you, you have to be consistent. Acting one way in public and another behind closed doors will make people doubt you. People can smell inauthenticity a mile off.
Keep Your Balance: Nobody trusts a leader who falls apart under pressure and crumbles in a crisis. Managing your emotions and staying steady, especially in tough times, makes people feel safe around you.
Trust Takes Time, but Can Disappear in a Blink: You can work for years to build trust, but one bad move can destroy it in a second. Every action counts. That’s why it’s important to do the right thing, even when no-one is watching. Integrity is everything.
Admit When You Mess Up: Leaders who own their mistakes and show humility gain more trust. Nobody expects perfection, but they do expect honesty.
Create a Safe Space for Others: People need to feel comfortable speaking up, giving feedback, and making mistakes without fear of backlash. A culture of trust starts with leaders making that possible.
Let Go and Trust Your Team: Micromanaging tells your team you don’t trust them. Give people the freedom to take ownership, make mistakes, and grow—you’ll earn their trust in return.
Your Reputation Defines You – People remember how you treat them. If you want to be seen as trustworthy, always keep your word, act with integrity, and have your team’s back.
The Last Word
Trust is the bedrock of great leadership—hard to build, easy to break, and essential for success. It thrives on authenticity, consistency, and emotional intelligence, shaping how others perceive and receive you. Lead with integrity, honour your commitments, and create a culture of psychological safety. In the end, trust isn’t just what you say, it’s what you do.
Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk. She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.
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