I found this book to be a powerful tool for transformation because, as I read, I could identify essential traits I have to develop to become an effective leader, and also pick out solutions to most of the challenges in my work team….”
What if building trust isn’t simply a “soft skill,” but the strongest leadership strategy you could develop?
In Lead with Trust, leadership expert and HR executive Bart Spence reveals a powerful truth: the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our work, our leadership, and ultimately, our lives. Drawing on more than two decades of real-world experience—from boardrooms and manufacturing floors to family rooms and ballfields—Spence offers a refreshingly human approach to leadership rooted in building trust in the workplace.
At the heart of this book is a practical, experience-tested framework called The 9 Principles of Trust. Through vivid storytelling, humor, and hard-earned lessons, Spence shows how trust is built (and broken) in everyday moments: keeping small promises, listening without fixing, leading with vulnerability, and showing up when it matters most.
Lead with Trust will challenge you to rethink how you lead, connect, and show up for others. You’ll discover how trust-centered leadership can:
- Boost morale and engagement through psychological safety and honest communication.
- Reduce turnover while strengthening performance.
- Strengthen company-wide relationships at every level between leaders and teams.
- Repair broken trust after missteps without shame or defensiveness.
- Develop confident, authentic leaders grounded in integrity, vulnerability, and consistency.
If you’re looking to develop yourself and your team members into true leaders, it starts with building trust. When trust leads, workplaces become healthier, teams more loyal, and success more sustainable.
“…As a leadership coach, public speaker, and long-time human resources executive, the author has the pedigree to speak to this subject with authority, as well as the skill to convey these ideas clearly, fueled by a holistic perspective that can only come from real-world experience…”
Laughter is more than just a brief escape from stress; it's the glue that binds people together and fosters trust, especially when it comes to leading a team.”
—Bart Spence, Lead with Trust