Trust: Do You Have Enough Leadership Capital?

This key to leadership lasts beyond your presence!

“Do I have the personality to be a leader?”

This is the question I heard this week as I reviewed a Discovery Process® assessment with a client. The first part or this human analytics tool is a personality assessment (like DiSC or Myers-Briggs or Enneagram, etc.). At the end of our discussion on this initial section, she said to me, “Do I have the personality of a leader?” My heart sank a little bit for her.

How many times have you heard that? How many times have you yourself wondered if you have the personality for leadership? I remember having the same question in my 20s when I was given a DiSC profile. I wondered if I had what it takes to be a leader.

I was told that folks who are extroverted and task-focused or “high-D” on the DiSC make the best leaders. I was told that folks who are “high-I,” and also extroverted but more people-focused, make the best salespeople. Well, since I was neither of those, I guessed I was screwed when it came to being a leader.

Yet, this went totally against what my coaches and teachers told me. My high school and college basketball coaches told me, “As you go, the team goes. When you do well, the team does well.” Others told me, “You’re a natural leader.” At the time, I didn’t understand either of those statements, and I especially didn’t understand them after that personality assessment.

When we think about leadership, the first images that often come to mind are of the confident executive, the charismatic speaker, or the bold decision-maker. We’re led to believe that leadership is about having the best ideas, making the tough calls, and inspiring others through sheer will, wisdom, and determination. This narrative paints a picture of leadership as a solo endeavor focused on the leader’s vision, strategy, performance, and subsequent moments of glory. It’s a story of heroism, where the leader is the star of the show.

My client didn’t fit that picture, nor did I. So, what’s the truth? I believe we need to reframe this narrative.

What if leadership isn’t really about the leader at all?

True leadership isn’t all about how you, as the leader, shine in the spotlight; it’s about how you illuminate the path for others. It’s about empowering and co-elevating your team, your colleagues, yes, even your customers, and others around you. It’s about creating an atmosphere where others feel safe, supported, challenged, and capable of achieving great things utilizing their genius.

This shift in perspective requires us to recognize that trust is one of the most essential forms of capital a leader can have. Unlike financial or intellectual capital, trust doesn’t reside in your bank account or your brain. It’s stored in the hearts and minds of the people you lead.

Building trust isn’t about showing how much you know or how strong you are; it isn’t about what you did in the past, your corner office, or the prestigious job titles you’ve held; it’s about showing that you care. That you care enough to bring your gifts and talents for all to share. That you care about your purpose, your mission, your people. It’s about being present, listening actively, and making others feel seen and heard. It’s about your ability to be respectful and treat everyone with dignity. Trust grows when people know that you value them, that you believe in their potential, and that you are committed to their growth.

And here’s the kicker: the true measure of your leadership (and earned trust) is not just in the impact you make when you’re in the room. It’s in the legacy you leave when you’re not. A leader’s presence should empower others to act, to take initiative, and to lead in their own right. And when you’re not around, the culture of trust you’ve built should continue to foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience.

So, let’s rethink leadership. It’s not about you; it’s about us. Our goal is not to be the hero of the story but to be the guide who helps others become heroes themselves. Build trust, empower and trust those around you, and create a lasting impact that goes beyond your presence. Because that’s what true leadership is about.

Until next time, let me encourage you. You don’t have to already possess what others have said is the “personality of a leader.” There is no such thing. You decide how you want to show up. It is your actions, not your behavioral style, that determines your ability to lead. Be your best self. Invest in yourself. Learn how to trust and become more trustworthy. Empower with purpose, and watch as the true impact of your leadership unfolds, even in your absence. The key is to become more trustworthy and build your leadership capital of TRUST.

Stay tuned to learn a few tips on what’s next.

Please share your comments or questions below. I'd love to hear from you!