Trust only thrives when leaders walk the talk

Leaders often think trust comes from big gestures—but it actually grows in the little moments no one thinks twice about. Kara was the head of a small nonprofit, always preaching transparency. But when her assistant asked her to sponsor a fundraiser idea, Kara waved it off publicly and later dismissed it privately—without even a note of apology. Kara noticed her assistant withdrawing, hesitant to bring new ideas.

That night Kara sat at her kitchen table listening to the distant hum of traffic and reflected on her core values—respect and honesty. She realized trust was slipping. The next morning, she sent a simple note: “I handled our fundraiser conversation poorly and I’m sorry. Your ideas matter. Let’s discuss it together.” She showed up on time, asked questions, and really listened.

By the end of the week, her assistant was laughing again, energized to bring new proposals forward. Kara found her own confidence in dealing openly with mistakes. Neuroscience research shows that when leaders admit errors and correct course, it activates reward pathways in the brain, strengthening social bonds and accelerating trust. Real trust is quiet, built in everyday acts of integrity.

You can begin earning deeper trust today by first listing your top three character values, then choosing one mistake you made and owning it transparently—apologize and share how you’ll fix it. Next, follow through on a small commitment you often let slide, using an interim reminder. Finally, create an anonymous form or suggestion box so your team can let you know how to be more trustworthy. Trust grows in these small, consistent actions—give it a try tonight.