There has rarely been a moment in recent history when leaders have faced quite so much turbulence. Markets are shifting, technology is accelerating, and teams are adapting to new ways of working at a pace that feels relentless. In the middle of this noise, the role of a leader is to act as a lighthouse, offering clarity and stability when everything around feels chaotic. Trust becomes the anchor. Without it, teams drift. With it, they move with purpose.

The stakes are high. Gallup’s most recent global engagement figures show that only about one in five employees feels engaged at work. Low trust is a key driver behind that number. When people do not trust their leaders or their colleagues, they disconnect. The good news is that trust is not a mystery or a personality trait. It is a skill that can be strengthened.

The following seven research backed models offer leaders practical, usable strategies that work in the real world.