When I think about what a high‑trust leader looks like in real life, I think of Dr. Naida Rutherford.

She is the embodiment of these principles — a powerful motivational speaker and a dear friend who leads with clarity, courage, and compassion.

I’ve watched her communicate in ways that make people feel seen, safe, and genuinely valued. She says what she means, follows through on what she promises, and shows up with a consistency that builds trust long before she ever speaks a word.

Leaders like Naida don’t just talk about trust, they practice it — in the small moments, the hard moments, and the moments no one else sees.

If you’ve ever worked for a leader like Naida, whom you trusted completely, you know the feeling. You breathe a little easier and think more clearly.

Trust changes everything.

But most leaders don’t realize…
·      Trust isn’t built in grand moments.
·      It’s built in tiny communication habits repeated over time.

After 30 years of coaching executives, I can tell you this with absolute confidence: High‑trust leaders simply communicate differently.

Here are the habits I see in leaders who consistently earn trust and keep it.

1. They say what they mean, and they mean what they say. They communicate with a level of directness that feels refreshing, not harsh.

And when they don’t know something? They say that too.
(Which, ironically, makes people trust them more.)

2. They close the loop every time. Most leaders unintentionally create trust gaps by leaving things open‑ended:

“I’ll get back to you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Let’s revisit this.”

But then meetings pile up, priorities shift, and the follow‑up never comes.
High‑trust leaders don’t let conversations drift into the abyss. They set a date and time for the follow up and they follow through.

3. They match their words with their signals.
You can say, “My door is always open,” but if you’re staring at your phone and looking like you’re about to sprint out of the building every time someone approaches…your team will take the hint.

Your team is always reading you, even when you’re not talking.

4. They make people feel seen, not managed.

High‑trust leaders really listen.

Not the “I’m nodding while mentally answering emails” kind of listening.
The kind where people walk away thinking, “Wow… they actually heard me.”
You can’t fake that.

Here’s the baa-ttom line: If you want to elevate your leadership presence, start with your communication habits.

Leaders who earn trust aren’t the ones who talk the most, they’re the ones who communicate with clarity, intention, and humanity.