Building Trust: The Leadership Skill That Outweighs Technical Expertise

Not long ago, I was working with a leader who had built their career on deep technical skills. They were the person everyone went to for solutions. But when promoted to manage a larger team, things shifted. Suddenly, it wasn’t about being the smartest in the room—it was about building trust so others could succeed.

This leader quickly learned that trust doesn’t come from technical know-how alone. It comes from how you show up for people. The Four Pillars of Trust offer a simple guide:

·        Consistency – Do your words and actions align over time?

·        Compassion – Do you care about your team as people, not just employees?

·        Competence – Do you deliver on your commitments?

·        Communication – Do you share openly, clearly, and honestly?

When leaders lean into these skills, they move from being individual contributors to true talent developers and culture shapers. And that’s when trust—and performance—really grows.

I’d love to hear from you: How do you build trust with your direct reports? What’s worked best in your experience?