The Leadership Advice that Sounds Simple but Isn't
And why every emerging leader struggles with it
I remember a conversation with one of the HR executives I've worked with (sidebar: some of my favorite colleagues have been HR professionals—column for another time) about coaching emerging leaders on trust.
She said something that stuck: 'Trust sounds simple when you're explaining it. But watch their faces when they realize what it actually requires.'
She was right. Leading with trust means giving people the benefit of the doubt when you're under pressure to deliver. It means being transparent when holding your cards would be safer. It means staying open to being wrong—publicly—when your team is already questioning your decisions.
I've learned the hard way that trust isn't just powerful—it's one of the most difficult leadership choices you'll make consistently.
What's the hardest part for you about leading with trust?
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