Leading So People Will Follow

When There’s No Trust

Untrustworthy leaders are simply not leaders in the eyes of their followers. I’ve seen it time and again over the years: an untrusted leader is just “the boss.” People will do what they must to keep their jobs, and they may find other leaders in the organization to whom they can commit and in whom they can put their trust. But their relationship with the untrustworthy leader will be characterized by self-protection and avoidance. They will share as little as possible of their real thoughts and concerns and redirect their passion and enthusiasm for pursuits outside work. The best people will tend to leave over time, consciously or unconsciously looking for leaders in whom they can place their trust—leaders it feels safe to ...