It’s good to be recognised but awards, promotions and social media often reinforce the idea that leadership is about being seen, celebrated and known. But is that the kind of leadership that truly shapes cultures and changes lives?
We’ve found there’s another kind of leadership that happens in the shadows. In quiet, consistent decisions when no one is watching. It’s in the choice to act, even without full certainty, because doing something is better than staying stuck and hoping things turn out for the best.It’s in the courage to stand by your decisions but also to admit when you’re wrong, looking for solutions rather than saving face. This is how to build trust in leadership in a genuine, sustainable way.
Case study
In one organisation we worked with, a divisional head made a hiring decision that didn’t work out. The new leader clashed with his team, and performance dropped. Instead of blaming HR, the process or the new hire, the leader owned it both publicly and privately.He said to his team: I got this one wrong. I chose speed over fit. Here’s what I’ve learned and here’s how I’ll approach it next time.’No one could have expected what happened next. His team rallied. Trust deepened and people started speaking up more, taking greater initiative. They saw that leadership isn’t about perfection – it’s about responsibility, learning and growth.One act of humility created a culture shift.
What we learned
Humility involves vulnerability, and being vulnerable means admitting that you don’t have all the answers. Sometimes you’ll make mistakes. The fear is that by showing your flaws and hiccups, you’ll erode trust in you as a leader. Are you reliable, effective and credible?But what we saw is that in real life, humility strengthens trust. This is how to build trust in leadership. It isn’t about status or ego. It’s about stewardship and doing the hard things, especially when no one is clapping.Perhaps the most powerful leadership act of all is making space for others to rise.
The human edge
We’re lucky at Jarred to work with leaders who are strong enough to be honest about where they are. Many are facing relentless change with no clear answers and no clear map.But they keep showing up with integrity, vulnerability and resolve. They understand that trust is the cornerstone of leadership and it’s built in the small, consistent acts: not the showy moments.If this has you thinking about how to build trust in leadership while recognising the seen and unseen moments, then we’re here to listen. Just book a call with Kerry
