TRUST & LEADERSHIP

In recent years, several leaders across various sectors have successfully gained or restored trust through their actions and leadership styles. Here are three examples of leadership gaining trust:

1. Jacinda Ardern’s Leadership during COVID-19 (New Zealand)

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern garnered international praise for her empathetic and decisive leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ardern’s transparent communication, early lockdown measures, and emphasis on public health over political concerns built widespread trust among New Zealanders. Her compassionate approach, combined with frequent, clear updates and a focus on collective responsibility, led to New Zealand initially experiencing lower infection and mortality rates compared to other countries. Ardern’s leadership style, rooted in kindness and transparency, became a global model of trust-building in times of crisis.

In my view her most clear act of leadership was her stepping down, on her own initiative and against the wish of her political party, from campaigning for her next period of Prime Minister, although it looked assured that she again would win. Voluntarily stepping down from a high position looks certainly to be the best act of leadership and will gain you a lot of (further) trust, but alas, after that move your trust level as this leader at this formal position can’t be measured anymore!

1. Satya Nadella’s Leadership at Microsoft

Since taking over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014, Satya Nadella has been widely credited with transforming the company’s culture and restoring trust. Nadella shifted Microsoft’s focus toward cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and inclusive leadership. His emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and a “growth mindset” reinvigorated the company and restored its relevance in the tech world. Nadella’s commitment to diversity, equity, and ethical AI practices also helped earn Microsoft a reputation as a responsible leader in technology, further building trust among employees, partners, and customers.

1. Volodymyr Zelensky’s Leadership in Ukraine’s War (2022-2023)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky became a global symbol of resilience and leadership during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Initially underestimated as a former comedian-turned-politician, Zelensky gained immense trust both domestically and internationally by staying in Kyiv during the invasion, addressing the nation daily, and rallying global support for Ukraine. His authenticity, courage, and direct communication in the face of existential threats earned him widespread admiration and trust, turning him into a key figure in Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty and freedom. Internationally, his leadership has secured crucial military and financial aid, further building trust in his capabilities.

These examples showcase leaders who have successfully gained or strengthened trust by demonstrating transparency, empathy, and resilience in times of challenge, leading to widespread support from their communities and stakeholders.

Both classic and social media have a tendency to only highlight a lack of trust in leaders or a leader failing to gain trust or even creating distrust by his/her own actions. Although other leaders can learn from these bad examples, the good examples are better at increasing our understanding of this phenomenon. They are also inspiring others to lead in a more trustful way. Both kinds of examples certainly show that the connections between trust and leadership are getting more important and that there no longer is a guarantee that you are trusted only because of your formal high position. I analyzed this as ‘the new permanent public grandstand’ leading to a ‘battle for public authority’ (see De Waal, 2018).

These examples show how important it is we will start a Special Interest Group on Trust and Leadership within the International Leadership Association (ILA) at the next annual conference in Chicago. Our goal is to unite individuals passionate about the intersections of trust and leadership. The group will engage globally, fostering discussions, collaboration, and research across different cultures and contexts. Key objectives include building trust in leadership, understanding how trust impacts leadership and followership, and addressing declining levels of trust. Activities like events, webinars, and workshops will create a knowledge-sharing platform. This aligns with ILA’s mission by promoting diversity, inclusion, and innovative leadership practices.