Building Trust:
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9 (NIV)
Introduction
n a world where leaders often fall faster than they rise, the most enduring influence doesn’t come from charisma, strategy, or even vision—it comes from trust. Trust is the currency of leadership. You can have all the right systems in place, but if people can’t trust you, your influence is paper-thin.
C.S. Lewis put it simply: “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
Every leader carries a silent, invisible bank account. It isn’t filled with money or credentials—it’s filled with trust. And like any account, it is constantly rising or falling with every decision, every conversation, and every unseen choice.
Pastor and author Craig Groeschel once said, “People would rather follow a leader who is always real than one who is always right.” Trust doesn’t hinge on perfection—it hinges on integrity.
Lose trust, and your influence evaporates. Guard it, and your leadership becomes a deep well others will draw from again and again.
A Biblical Foundation
Proverbs 10:9 (NIV) says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Solomon offers a striking contrast between the secure path of integrity and the destructive trail of deception. Integrity, in this context, isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment, consistency, and truthfulness. A leader who walks in integrity doesn’t have to look over their shoulder or hide from hard questions. Their life can withstand scrutiny—because they have nothing to hide.
The Hebrew word translated “securely” implies confidence, safety, and stability. It paints the image of a person whose character holds steady under pressure because it’s built on truth. Integrity provides security—not just for the leader, but for the people they lead. It becomes the solid ground beneath their leadership.
The opposite is also true: when leaders walk in deception—carrying hidden motives or making compromised decisions—those paths will eventually be exposed.
Jesus affirmed this truth in Luke 12:2 (NIV):
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.”
Every leader walks a path that eventually becomes public. What you build in secret will one day be revealed in the light.
Character Above Charisma
We live in a world obsessed with charisma—but the Kingdom of God still values character.
Billy Graham once said, “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”
Too often, we’ve watched gifted leaders fall—not because they lacked skill, but because they lacked roots. Trust wasn’t stolen—it was slowly surrendered, piece by piece, through compromise.
Leaders who consistently build trust live in such a way that others feel safe under their care. They:
- Tell the truth, even when it costs them.
- Keep their word, even when it’s inconvenient.
- Own their mistakes, and let those moments shape their growth.
Their leadership becomes a mirror—clear and honest, not distorted or filtered. Their integrity isn’t a platform they stand on; it’s the foundation they build on..
Application:
So how do we build trust with those we lead? Here are four ways to build (and guard) trust in leadership:
1. Model Humble Accountability
Surround yourself with trusted voices who can speak into your life without fear. Accountability isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. It protects your integrity and reminds people that your leadership is grounded in something greater than ego.
2. Walk in Transparency
Be the same person behind closed doors as you are on the platform. Transparency builds confidence in your leadership. Choose to be more concerned with genuine transparency than you are self-protection. People don’t expect you to be perfect—they do need you to be real. In addition, transparency will help you stay the course in life. Like guard-rails, the practice of transparency will motivate you to live privately what you profess publicly. By when you stumble, and you will — confess quickly. More over, repent thoroughly. Let others around you see your humanity, but also your passion for holiness.
3. Keep Your Word—Even When It Costs
Integrity isn’t tested when it’s easy to follow through, but when it’s costly. Let your “yes” be “yes.” Leaders who keep their word—especially under pressure—earn trust that can weather any storm. The habit of keeping your word is often established during the small moments of life. So, work to build consistency in the small things.
4. Anchor your identity in Christ. If your self-worth is tied to the approval of others, you’ll always feel the pressure to perform, to pretend, or to prove something you’re not. That kind of leadership is exhausting—and unsustainable. But when your identity is anchored in Christ, everything changes. You begin to believe the truth of Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You’re not striving to become someone—you already are someone. You are His. Fully known, fully loved, and divinely purposed. Anchoring your identity in Christ frees you from the treadmill of performance. You no longer lead to impress—you lead to serve. You no longer speak to gain praise—you speak to be faithful. You no longer operate from insecurity—you lead with holy confidence. The apostle Paul modeled this with clarity and conviction. In Galatians 1:10, he writes, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul understood that people-pleasing and faithful leadership cannot coexist. You can’t serve two masters: the applause of people and the call of God. When your identity is rooted in Christ, your leadership becomes authentic, resilient, and trustworthy—because it’s not about proving yourself, but about reflecting the One who called you.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, people don’t follow titles—they follow trust. And trust isn’t built in the spotlight; it’s forged in the quiet soil of integrity. You don’t need to be flashy to be trusted. You need to be faithful. Day after day, choice after choice, behind closed doors and in front of others—integrity is the path that secures your leadership and sustains your influence.
So let your leadership be shaped by a daily commitment to walk in integrity. Let your private life reinforce—not contradict—your public calling. And let your life speak so clearly that your words only echo what others already see. Make it your goal not just to do right, but to live well. Build trust with those you lead and with those who walk beside you.
Anne Frank once said, “The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.”
As leaders, that formation happens one decision at a time.
Choose the secure path.
Choose integrity.
Choose to build trust.