Leadership
When it comes to trust, your actions speak louder than words
People don’t work for companies. They work for leaders they trust. And that trust is being tested like never before.
Trust isn’t just a leadership buzzword – it’s everything. It fuels relationships, powers performance, and creates cultures where people and businesses thrive. Yet today, we are living in a crisis of trust.
According to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer:
- 61% of people globally believe institutions serve the few, not the many.
- Trust in government and media is plummeting, and even business – the most trusted institution – is slipping.
- Trust in employers has fallen from 78% in 2018 to 73% today.
The biggest takeaway? Trust isn’t built by institutions – it’s built by people. The leaders who understand this will be the ones shaping the future.
People don’t work for companies – they work for leaders they trust. But that trust is being tested like never before. More than 62% of employees fear losing their jobs to automation and globalization, creating widespread uncertainty about the future of work. At the same time, employees are questioning whether their companies truly see and value them as workplace instability grows and organizations struggle to maintain transparency and accountability.
If you’re a leader, these numbers should stop you in your tracks. Because trust isn’t about what you say, it’s about what you do.
Emotions, not just transactions
Trust isn’t just logical. It’s emotional. It’s the invisible force that turns customers into lifelong advocates and employees into top performers. Companies that appreciate this don’t just survive crises – they emerge stronger.
When Johnson & Johnson faced the Tylenol crisis in 1982, discovering that tampered capsules had caused multiple deaths, it didn’t wait for instructions or prioritize profits. It pulled millions of bottles off the shelves, put consumer safety first, and communicated transparently. That decisive action earned them something money can’t buy: lasting trust.
The message is clear: leaders who prioritize trust drive results. They create workplaces where people feel seen, respected, and valued.
We saw the same kind of leadership in 2024 when McDonald’s responded to an E. coli outbreak impacting hundreds of customers across multiple states in the US. Instead of downplaying the issue, McDonald’s acted swiftly and transparently by recalling affected ingredients, closing impacted locations, and openly communicating with the public. The company reinforced its reputation for trust by taking responsibility and prioritizing customer safety.
That’s the power of trust. It’s earned before it’s needed. It’s what carries a business through crisis, uncertainty, and change. Trust sets companies apart.
Trust: the business superpower
The data doesn’t lie: companies with high-trust cultures outperform competitors by 2.5 times. According to one MIT Sloan Management Review study, employees in high-trust environments experience 74% less stress, 50% higher productivity, and 40% lower burnout.
The message is clear: leaders who prioritize trust drive results. They create workplaces where people feel seen, respected, and valued. And in a world where talent is everything, leaders can’t afford to ignore that.
The readout from the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer is a wake-up call. Trust is fragile, and skepticism is rising. But that also means leaders have an opportunity to step up, take action, and rebuild trust from the inside out.
This moment demands more than just good intentions. It calls for:
- Workplaces where people feel respected, not just managed.
- Leaders who understand that trust is about actions and not words.
- A shift from profit-driven leadership to purpose-driven leadership.
Trust is the foundation of strong teams, resilient businesses, and leadership that lasts.
In a time when trust is scarce, the leaders who prioritize it will be the ones who thrive. Because trust isn’t just part of leadership – it is leadership.