The Speed of Trust: Why Teams Move Faster When Leaders Build Confidence
Trust is often called the foundation of leadership. But in reality, it’s more than a foundation — it’s actually the fuel that makes everything move faster.
Stephen M. R. Covey defines trust as “confidence born of both character and competence.” When trust is high, everything happens faster and costs less. When it’s low, everything takes longer and costs more.
That’s not philosophy, that’s physics.
What Trust From Leadership Looks Like
When leaders trust their people, it shows. They don’t hover and they don’t need constant updates or layers of approval. They set clear expectations, create space, and check in rather than check up.
That kind of trust is earned when people consistently follow through on their commitments and demonstrate both competence and character. But it’s also built when leaders get to know their people. That means getting to know not just what they do, but who they are.
Empathy speeds trust because people who feel seen and understood don’t waste energy proving their worth. They use it to perform.
What Trust in Leadership Looks Like
The other side is just as important. Teams need to trust their leaders. They need to see them as credible, consistent, and human.
This is not easy. Leaders have to represent both the company and the team. If they lean too far toward the company, overpromise, or sugarcoat bad news, they lose the team’s trust. If they lean too far toward the team and constantly “apologize” for the company, they lose credibility upward.
Trust that flows both ways — from leaders to teams and teams to leaders — creates alignment, speed, and energy. When it doesn’t, even small tasks feel like a grind.
A Lesson in Speed Through Trust
When I led a Software Quality group, we were physically separated from Engineering. It felt isolating at first, but that separation helped us bond.
As QA’s manager, I was the bridge connecting us to Engineering and ensuring our goals were aligned. Our primary task during this time was to automate tens of thousands of manual tests. I didn’t dictate how we accomplished the task. We built a framework, clarified the outcomes, and I trusted the team to decide the best approach.
They trusted me to represent them well and to keep Engineering aligned. We trusted Engineering to support us. Everyone moved with clarity and autonomy.
As a result, we automated faster than expected, improved software quality, and created a shared sense of accomplishment. It was one of the most fun, high-performing periods of my career.
That’s what trust does. It multiplies momentum.
How Leaders Accidentally Slow Everything Down
Even small cracks in trust can create big slowdowns. Three of the biggest causes are:
Hypocrisy: When words and actions don’t match.
Avoided accountability: When leaders let underperformance slide.
False confidence: When leaders pretend to know what they don’t.
Each of these creates uncertainty. And uncertainty slows everything down.
Three Ways to Build Trust That Speeds Results
Talk Straight / Create Transparency
Be as open as possible about decisions, context, and rationale. Don’t over-spin or soften messages until they lose meaning. Trust grows when people believe you’ll tell them the truth even when it’s uncomfortable.Get Better
Model a growth mindset. Admit what you don’t know and show that you’re learning. Teams trust leaders who are real and relentlessly improving.Listen First
Listen to hear, not to respond. Ask questions. Reflect back what you’ve heard. People who feel heard trust faster and perform better.
“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication.”
— Stephen R. Covey
Final Thought
Trust is not a soft skill. It’s a force multiplier.
When leaders build trust, teams move faster, work smarter, and deliver better. It’s not magic, it’s the natural outcome of clarity, consistency, and connection.
So ask yourself: is your leadership building confidence or creating friction? Your answer determines your team’s speed.
Want to see how trust and communication show up in your leadership style?
Try the free Fail-Safe Leadership Assessment