Trusted Leader: 8 Pillars That Drive Results

by David Horsager

Without trust, people and businesses fail. Trusted Leader provides a framework for building trust so that you and your organizations can perform at your best.“A lack of trust is your biggest expense,” says Wall Street Journal bestselling author David Horsager. Without trust, transactions cannot occur. Without trust, influence is destroyed. Without trust, leaders lose their people. Trust can be either your most vulnerable weakness or your greatest asset. Horsager introduces readers to his Eight Pillars of Trust through the journey of a senior leader who thought success was certain. Follow CEO Ethan Parker as he discovers the power of trust and how to apply it amid the complexities of leadership, change, and culture transformation. The Eight Pillars of Trust (Clarity, Compassion, Character, Competency, Commitment, Connection, Contribution, and Consistency) are based on Horsager's original research and extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies and top government agencies around the globe. In addition to the business parable, this book is rich in practical advice for implementing each of the Eight Pillars. You will learn strategies to increase alignment, overcome attrition, and get absolutely clear on executing your top priorities. Horsager offers a road map for how to become the most trusted expert in your industry.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Self Help

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

About the author

David Horsager, MA, CSP, CPAE is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, national bestselling author of The Trust Edge, inventor of the Enterprise Trust Index™, and director of one of the nation’s foremost trust studies: The Trust Outlook™. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Fast Company, Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. David has advised leaders and delivered life-changing presentations on six continents, with audiences ranging everywhere from FedEx, Toyota and global governments to the New York Yankees and the Department of Homeland Security. Get free resources and more at www.DavidHorsager.com and www.TrustEdge.com.

Reviews

[Tim Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended the book via a social media post by Mark Hunter, the sales guru.

“Trusted Leader - 8 pillars that drive results” is a business novel, in the style of Patrick Lencipni, where the book tells of story of four mates going off on a skiing holiday. Which provides an easy narrative to follow around service delivered by the hotel that the four friends stay at.

The number one you learn is that trust is the is required in an organisation from the top to the bottom and the bottom right up to the top. Love that!

It was only two thirds of the way through when we switch from novel to applying our learnings when I realised that we moved from novel to business pitch. Of course, the central theme we have learned is “trust” the book is written by the CEO of “The Trust Edge”. The final chapters are pretty much a list of what you can buy from the consultancy. This I felt that ruined what otherwise would have been a great book.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People trust what they are empowered
to be a real part of…”


David Horsager is one of a handful of rising corporate leaders who are revolutionizing the workplace not just in terms of pragmatism, but also in terms of a decidedly post-hierarchal outlook. With the rise of social movements such as #TimesUp and MeToo, the typical company model has been forced to do the very thing it initially eschewed - becoming introspective about the nature of its operations. Sloganing like No time to be nice is starting to become the odd man out, looked upon with a sense of disdain and even semi-repellence. Horsager’s gift at communicating these kind of principles is grounded in his not being overtly maudlin, nor coldly removed. In his new book, Trusted Leader: 8 Pillars That Drive Results, he makes the case that a healthy dose of humility isn’t just a moral incentive, but a practical one as well. Trust is his operative keyword for how to, as they say in the vernacular, get the job done. A well-oiled machine that is a corporation, he argues, is at its peak not out of a sense of fear or tyranny, but when everyone has genuine incentive because of positive emotional investment. Horsager outlines in simple and effective language what he coins the Eight Pillars of Trust, consisting of Clarity, Compassion, Character, Competency, Commitment, Connection, Contribution, and Consistency.

Horsager’s other strength as a storyteller is his formatting the book less like that of a typical business advice release of the likes of a Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz or Roman Weil, and more like that of a standard novelization. He cites extensive and detailed scenarios with thematic and emotional depth to drive home his points, in effect completing full-circle his advocacy for a compassionate and comprehendible form of leadership and influence. This makes Trusted Leader accessible to a significantly wider audience than books typical of its genre, and because of this Horsager seems genuinely true to his word. He isn’t interested in outsmarting or keeping readers of the book within an exclusive continuum, but rather guiding them about his precepts on a universal level. Anyone will be able to empathize and understand the motivational and guiding factors that propel Horsager’s analogical protagonist ‘Ethan’ to achieve his respective, entrepreneurial dreams. It’s a compelling concoction of talent, the story never exceeding its mandated, narrative grasp nor coming across as tedious or infantilizing to the reader. Frankly the whole endeavor feels unexpectedly generous in its communicative ability, and again that is a salutation to the ethical and pragmatic form of leadership Horsager promotes.

[JONATHAN PEYTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing look at trust - a core concept that is at the heart of every personal & professional relationship. Trusted Leader tells the story of an executive that realizes how an erosion of trust has manifested into a multitude of problems in his organization - ultimately that trust is rebuilt through a series of intentional steps with a happy ending. The last part of this book dives into "The 8 C's": Clarity, Compassion, Character, Competency, Connection, Contribution & Consistency. What I like most about the book format are the simple and actionable steps behind each of the 8 C's - what symptoms you may see that indicate an area of need, and then multiple strategies to build and improve each area. I'd recommend this to any business leader looking to improve team performance and customer loyalty - Trusted Leader would make a great leadership team digest - just going through the 8 C's on a weekly or bi-weekly basis would be impactful.

[Mr B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you think trust is off in your business

I'm a huge fan of David and his work so it's no surprise that I think this book is great.

I think the style of it as a business fable is a great way to get across the trust framework. The book then goes on to talk about how you can work on the 8 pillar of trust and how to apply and assess each of them in your business.

The book is practical and a must read for any business owner who feels trust is maybe a bit off in their business.

Thanks for writing and awesome book David :-)

[Da Nelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book at a school board conference. David was an amazing speaker and captured my attention, his book was no different. Simply put I have been through crisis mode after crisis mode in education and the justice department. I’ve been in key leader positions and I’ve been the worker bee. This book should be on every leaders reader list. Build the trust through the eight pillars and you’ll keep the trust. Trust is the most expensive product a business will be responsible for. Don’t lose it

[Secun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book, because it's written with a particular story of a business leader and afterwards it goes deeper on the techniques and frameworks, connecting them with the previous story.
To my knowledge and experience, the 8 pillars are pretty well-known, and the way they are being presented is pretty useful: symptoms to identify them as well as the ways to strengthen them.
Recommended book and something to use on a daily basics for leading & interacting with people through trust.

[Mark R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust creates a solid foundation for Success

Excellent book on the subject of trust and how critical it is for both an organization and an individual. The break down into 8 Pillars makes a lot of sense and helps bring clarity to what trust is and how to strengthen it. Really appreciate all the ideas on how to create greater trust. This is not just a book on theory, but on clear application as well.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uses a storytelling approach similar to 5 dysfunctions of a team. The 8 pillars are illustrated through the employees' actions at the retreat location. Though sometimes the storyline seems a bit of a stretch, it is still heartwarming. I am still working through how to proceed in the trust-building process and hoping that the follow-up to this book, which is full of tools for each of the pillars, will provide helpful guidance.

[Alex Carlson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "Trust" leadership principles are ever-important, but the way this was laid out in a hypothetical narrative was a little too tidy and the dialogue between these four friends was very unrealistic. I prefer to read this in the more textbook format of Horsager's previous book. This did make me want to go on a ski trip, though!

[SREEHARI · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book to develop ones Trust

This book is severely important in todays mechanical world. It employs and re delivers the concept of the importance of trust and becoming trustworthy.
A great book to read. Dont miss It.

[Dusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. It's a novel (ski trip<3), yet practical, straight to the point. Key nex steps in the summary part. You might have a feeling that trust is the only success to everything (I don't agree) but I take it. One of the best leadership books I've read.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book by DavidHorsager who I had the pleasure of listening to. There’s a lot of great stuff in here that is applicable to the classroom! Teachers can build trust using the 8 pillars in their classrooms with their students!Highly recommend this book!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story upfront was not great, but it had a few good nuggets. Then the meat of the book - the pillars - seemed like a relatively small part and repetitive. I think this could be more effective as an article; it didn’t need to be a book.

[Megan Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for leaders/organizations that need some help becoming well rounded businesses. The book notes that leaders who lack key traits are not bad people. Instead, these leaders need help building strategies to gain trust. There are 8 strategies to build trust.

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Down to earth goodness and very deep. It gets right into the bones of the issues. Trust is so much more than just a word thrown around. Must read over and over.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food for thought

This book is so helpful in clarifying what trust means and how it can be used in each of the pillars. Keen to learm more and practice the pillars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how the beginning of this book was a story and didn't start right away with here is how to fix things. Made the learning process more enjoyable.

[David Fry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't resonate with the business story-telling narrative. The final pages following the narrative were the best

[Kami Mauldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read! As a new leader, all the content was super helpful! I can’t wait to dig in with me team!

[Cristina Laudando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read it for work and it actually wasn’t bad. Read it in one sitting

[Tracey Bobitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give it about 3.5 stars. I’m not terribly into the corporate jargon books, but this one had some decent insights and was told through a lovely little parable that kept it moving.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed that trust was at the center of everything. Some of the pillars land much better than others, but overall was a very good guide for creating a great work environment.