How to Lead Through Change When Your Team Doesn't Trust You
“You may get compliance, but you won’t get commitment without trust.”
Trust is the foundation of leadership. By definition, it means: "assured reliance on character, ability, strength, and truth of someone". Trust is critical when you're developing your leadership skills. It is an overlooked skill to build, but it's imperative if you want to lead change in your school effectively.
If your team doesn’t trust you, resistance will be high, engagement will be low, and even your best initiatives will fall flat. Without trust, change feels like something happening to them rather than something they are part of.
Trust can be built. And when you develop trust, you won’t just lead change—you’ll create a movement within your school.
So, what do you do when you’re leading change, but your team doesn’t trust you? Start with these four foundations of trust in leadership:
1. Character – Who You Are Determines How Much They Trust You
If your team doesn’t trust you, the first thing they’re questioning is your character. Principals must be good at what they do, but be great at who they are!
