Skills vs. Trust: The Leadership Dilemma—And Why 92% of You Choose Trust

Recently, I ran a poll asking a simple but powerful leadership question:

"Would you rather have a highly skilled team or a highly trusting team?"

The results? A staggering 92% chose trust.

This speaks volumes. In a world that often prioritises skills, qualifications, and technical expertise, leaders are recognising that without trust, even the most skilled teams struggle to perform at their highest level.

An interesting comment from one of our voters;

”I was leading a project management metrics team once and they'd put an accountant on the team (we were working on employee health and safety.) The accountant wasn't helping at all and I talked to him separately. At some point he told me, I really don't care about this, and I excused him from the team and asked for an employee who did care. She was nervous about the numbers but I told her I can teach her to read the graphs; I can't teach anyone how to care”.

Why Did 92% Choose Trust?

?? Trust fuels collaboration—Teams that trust each other share ideas, solve problems faster, and innovate more freely.

?? Trust enhances resilience—When challenges arise, a team built on trust adapts and moves forward together.

?? Trust drives engagement—People invest more in their work when they feel valued, heard, and safe.

The irony? When trust is strong, skills actually improve because people are more willing to learn, grow, and take initiative.

But here’s the challenge… How do you build real, unshakable trust in your team?

?? Leadership Lessons from Horses: Trust Before Skill

If there’s one thing I’ve learned working with horses and business leaders, it’s this:

You can’t lead through force. You lead through trust.

In a herd, horses don’t follow the strongest or fastest. They follow the most trusted leader—the one who is calm, consistent, and communicates clearly.

Just like in organisations, horses can sense:

? Inconsistency—Saying one thing but doing another.

? Fear-based leadership—Leading with control rather than connection.

? Lack of clarity—Unclear direction leads to hesitation and disengagement.

But when a leader earns trust through presence, integrity, and emotional awareness, the herd (or team) follows with confidence and unity.

This is the foundation of high-performance leadership—not just in nature, but in the boardroom, in businesses, and in every successful team.

The 3 Leadership Shifts That Build Trust AND Performance

Through my work with leaders and organisations, I’ve identified three essential leadership shifts that transform teams from disconnected and stagnant to high-trust and high-impact.

1. Game-Changing Trust – Creating psychological safety & open communication so your team moves with confidence, not hesitation.

2. Impactful Contribution – Unlocking each team member’s full potential by ensuring every voice is heard and valued.

3. Unbridled Adaptability – Leading through change with confidence and agility, turning uncertainty into opportunity.

When leaders intentionally focus on trust, contribution, and adaptability, teams don’t just survive—they thrive.?

What This Means for You

If you voted for trust, it means you already know what’s missing.

But knowing isn’t enough—action is what creates real change.

So here’s my challenge to you: How are you actively building trust within your team today?

Experience This Leadership in Action

Are you a trailblazing leader scaling your business fast—but frustrated by the constant challenges of leading a team?

If so, I invite you to a unique experiential workshop with horses, designed specifically for leaders like you—those who know that real success comes from harnessing the full energy of their people and turning teamwork into a competitive superpower.

At Business HorsePower, we help businesses unlock their team’s full potential and create massive business momentum by translating lessons from horse herds into powerful leadership strategies.

This isn’t another seminar. It’s a hands-on experience that will shift how you lead, forever.

Ready to transform how your team works together? First take the Unbridled Business assessment

Then DM me for more details. Let’s build teams that thrive, trust, and win—together.?

?? Drop a comment below: What’s the biggest leadership challenge you’re facing right now? Let’s discuss! ??

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