The Leadership Trust Quotient – Leading With Trust
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 24
- 7 min read
Sheun David Onamusi is a respected and inspiring healthcare collaborator, entrepreneur, and mind coach. He is the founder of Efra Wellbeing, a wellbeing startup, and Still Dapper UK, a bespoke leather goods company. He is an award-winning author, mentor, and part-time communications advisor to emerging leaders.
Trust is the invisible force that shapes every successful relationship, and in leadership, it becomes the ultimate currency. When trust is present, teams thrive with resilience, collaboration, and innovation. When it’s absent, even the strongest strategies falter. In this article, we’ll explore the “3Ps of Leadership Trust”, power, purpose, and prowess, and uncover practical ways leaders can strengthen their trust quotient to inspire loyalty, boost performance, and lead with lasting impact.
"Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships." – Stephen R. Covey
In the realm of leadership, trust is not a luxury, it is the vital currency that great leaders mint carefully and use judiciously. When it comes down to it, the strength of an organisation, community, or even a country often hinges on the level of trust its people have in their leaders. When trust flourishes within a team, performance and productivity can soar across the board. Consider trust as the oxygen in a room, it is often unnoticed when present, but its absence can have detrimental consequences.
In this article, I'll delve into what I refer to as the "3Ps of Leadership Trust," emphasising how leaders can effectively harness power, purpose, and prowess. When you are given a leadership role, you are effectively being trusted with these 3Ps, the delegated power to make decisions, the compass charting the purpose of the group, and, lastly, the overall aptitude of your individual genius and that of the people you lead.
We'll examine how nurturing trust can enhance your effectiveness as a leader. After each key point, I'll share a 'here's what you can do today', which is one practical step you can start implementing afterwards.
The ripple effect: Transformative trust in leadership
Let's begin with this simple yet unmistakable truth, when people trust their leaders, they generally tend to show up as their best selves. According to Gallup, a leading global analytics and advisory firm, employees who trust their leaders are 12 times more likely to be engaged and often go above and beyond what they're paid for. Leadership expert John C. Maxwell reinforces this notion, stating, "Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It's about one life influencing another." This influence is primarily cultivated through borrowed and conscious trust in leadership.
Consider a team that has recently undergone a challenging restructuring. One of the first casualties of such uncertainty is the trust employees have in the organisation's promises. The initial trust that the company has its best interest at the centre of its decisions starts to gradually fade, with whispers in the tea room about who might be at risk. Then, an eventual erosion of trust happens if not appropriately managed. As fear takes hold, rumours begin to circulate, ultimately resulting in distrust. In contrast, when there is a high level of trust present, employees embrace resilience, foster team collaboration, and drive innovation even in the midst of the most tumultuous restructuring. Trust isn't just a "feel-good concept", it plays a key role in achieving the bottom line.
Here's what you can do today. Start small by keeping commitments, even the tiny ones. If you say you operate an open-door policy as a leader, leave the door to your office open both figuratively and literally in the most difficult of times. Consistency builds your credibility with the people you lead.
The foundational 3Ps of leadership trust
Now to the meaty stuff! Let's examine the foundational components that define a trusted leader. These three components are the areas in which a leader's trust quotient is rated. Consciously or otherwise, people consider how well a leader has handled the power they have, the congruence of purpose, and how they positively contribute to the prowess of those they lead.
Power: The first layer of leadership
Power serves as the cornerstone of effective leadership and your trustworthiness as a leader. The first aspect of power refers to a leader's authority to instruct decisively and effectively. When a leader has delegated power, people tend to trust them. Just as no passenger would trust a pilot without the license (delegated power) to fly a plane, in leadership, whoever leads the pack must have some degree of capacity to take action. The second aspect of trust as it relates to power is how well the leader wields the authority they have. True power in leadership lies in the ability not to use (abuse) power abnormally.
Here's what you can do today. As a leader, consciously give power away. Delegate power to competent team members so that you can utilise your authority to make the big decisions.
Purpose: The compass that aligns the team
Purpose acts as the cohesive force that unites leaders and their team members. In its absence, leadership devolves into mere activities and tick-box exercises. A sense of purpose provides direction and meaning, serving as a north star that helps both leaders and teams navigate challenges. The more congruent this purpose is, the higher the trust level within the team.
Simon Sinek beautifully captured the essence of purpose with his words, "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." This insight applies to leadership as well. Substantial research has shown that teams thrive under leaders who clearly express and embody a compelling "why."
When leaders clearly articulate why they do what they do (purpose), followers see consistency between words and actions. This consistency is the foundation of trust. John C. Maxwell puts it this way, "People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision." A purpose that is believable and brings people together makes it easier to be trusted.
I asked ChatGPT, "What is the correlation between Trust and Purpose in Leadership?" and I liked the equation it came up with.
Purpose without trust = rhetoric.
Trust without purpose = confusion.
Trust + purpose together = alignment, loyalty, and performance.
Here's what you can do today. Regularly connect tasks to the big picture. In team meetings, don't just assign work, remind people how their efforts contribute to the larger goal.
Prowess: Results that speak louder than words
As we've explored together, trust is built over time and requires more than promises. A key characteristic of a truly trusted leader is their track record of results. People naturally feel more confident in those who consistently deliver. This last layer of leadership trust showcases your ability to utilise both your delegated authority and strategic vision in delivering consistent results. The better a leader gets at delivering results, the more trust they get from those they lead.
Jim Collins highlights in his Level 5 Leadership model that the most impactful leaders blend humility with determination. They earn trust by engaging directly and achieving tangible results. When leaders produce meaningful outcomes, they instill confidence in their followers, showing that their trust is not just well-placed but profoundly rewarded.
Here's what you can do today. Keep track of progress and share it openly. Don't wait until annual reviews, celebrate small wins throughout the year to show the team that your leadership brings real, visible progress.
As I summarise my thoughts, how does one embody these three Ps? What are the must-haves required to be more proficient in the 3Ps?
First, one needs to value having the right information when making decisions. While great leaders may not have all the answers, they know where to find them. They prioritise insights and team input before making decisions, which in effect makes it easier for them to be trusted.
Secondly, having the right level of eye for detail. Trust deepens when leaders sometimes sweat the small stuff. Understanding the nuts and bolts of operations, for example, can signal care and competence to members of the team on the front line of a manufacturing plant. The more detail a leader has about the right things, the easier it is for them to be trusted.
Thirdly, being radically transparent as required. Here's where trust meets visibility. By being transparent, leaders bridge the gap between intention and action, dispelling doubts along the way.
Last but in no wise the least. If a leader wants to build trust, they must show courage. At the pinnacle of trust, leaders must make bold decisions, even in the face of risk. As Jim Collins explains, courage is the backbone of true expertise and the foundation upon which Level 5 leaders are built.
Here's what you can do today. Embrace radical candour. Share what you know, acknowledge what you don't, and draw your team into the decision-making process.
Final thoughts: Leading with trust in action
Ultimately, leadership isn't about controlling others, it's about earning their trust. And as any consultant worth their onions will say, "Trust isn't automatic, it's something that leaders must actively nurture." The more conscious effort you put into building your trust quotient as a leader, the better you get at guiding people from borrowed trust (which is based on title or position) to conscious trust (which is willingly given by followers). Unlike borrowed trust, conscious trust is sticky, it's rooted in consistent character, shown in not abusing power, and demonstrated through competence by delivering purposeful results.
Now, take a moment to reflect. How strong is your trust quotient? If you found this article insightful, check out my previous blogs here on Brainz Magazine. Let's keep this conversation alive. Connect with me on my social media channels. I would love to hear how you're building trust in your leadership journey!
Read more from Sheun David Onamusi
Sheun David Onamusi, Healthcare Collaborator, Entrepreneur, Mind Coach
Sheun David Onamusi is a thought leader in how the mind influences success in business and life. Graduating from his first degree with a lower second class, he struggled with imposter syndrome, which led to a life-changing experience in 2021. He has since dedicated his life to collaborating with and helping others find purpose, and he relentlessly seeks to change one life at a time. His mission is to shape life through words & actions.
