Leadership isn’t just about vision and inspiration, but also about trust. And trust is fragile. A leader can be charismatic, intelligent, and even well-intentioned, but a few recurring bad habits will slowly erode their credibility.
Here are three trust killers—and, more importantly, how to fix them before they derail your influence.
- Not Following Through
They don’t finish the job. They don’t get back to you quickly. You’re left hanging.
Few things frustrate a team more than a leader who starts something but never completes it. When you fail to follow through, people feel undervalued and doubt your commitment. It signals that their priorities aren’t your priorities.
How to fix it:
- Use a personal accountability system. Whether it’s a task manager app, a whiteboard, or a notebook—track every commitment you make, no matter how small.
- Set realistic deadlines and communicate them clearly. If you need more time, tell people before the deadline passes.
- Close the loop. Always circle back with updates, even if the news isn’t perfect. Silence breeds frustration: transparency builds trust.
- Overpromising and Underdelivering
They talk a great game, but at the end of the day, they don’t deliver what they said they would.
Optimism is good; empty promises are not. Leaders who overpromise often believe they’re inspiring their team—but when reality falls short, motivation collapses. It’s better to set a modest expectation and exceed it than to shoot for the moon and leave everyone stranded.
How to fix it:
- Calibrate your promises to reality. Before you commit, evaluate resources, timelines, and risks.
- Add a buffer. If you think it will take 5 days, say 7. This gives you room to surprise people with early delivery.
- Be honest when things change. If circumstances shift, explain why and reset expectations quickly.
- Consistently Late
Always late. Don’t respect people’s time. Waste people’s time.
Leaders set the tone for the team’s culture. When you’re habitually late—whether to meetings, calls, or deadlines—you’re sending a loud message: My time is more valuable than yours. It’s not just inconvenient; it’s disrespectful.
How to fix it:
- Plan backwards. If a meeting starts at 10:00, aim to be ready at 9:55.
- Audit your calendar. If you’re always late, you’re probably overbooked. Say “no” to more things or schedule longer gaps between commitments.
- Model punctuality publicly. When you’re early and ready, others notice and follow suit.
Leadership isn’t just about what you say; it’s about what you do consistently. To inspire loyalty, you must demonstrate reliability. Follow through. Deliver what you promise. Respect people’s time.
Do these three things, and you’ll not only gain trust, but you’ll also become the kind of leader people want to follow.
