Trust is the New Performance Strategy

We’re entering an era where leadership can no longer be transactional. It has to be deeply human.

Across my career, I’ve seen what happens when people feel like just another number on a spreadsheet.

Loyalty fades.

Passion disappears.

And the constant need to prove one’s worth becomes exhausting.

When people are surviving instead of thriving, there’s no room left for creativity, innovation, or the heavy lifts that move organizations forward.

Lately, I’m reminded everywhere I look that we’re shifting toward relational leadership—the kind rooted in trust, belonging, and genuine connection rather than compliance or control.

Brené Brown’s new book Strong Ground brought this into sharp focus again: strong leaders build strong relationships.

Not as a tactic, but as a way of being.

This matters because the cost of ignoring it is steep. When leaders don’t meet the emotional and relational needs of their teams, disengagement follows.

Cultures fracture.

Innovation slows.

And the brightest people quietly stop offering their best ideas.

Without mutual trust, performance becomes transactional—and retention suffers.

Relational leadership isn’t soft.

It’s strategic.

It’s about creating environments where people can show up fully, contribute freely, and know they’re valued for who they are, not just what they deliver.

That’s where real growth happens—for people and for the business.

So here’s my advice:

Have real conversations. Be curious. Be present.

Invest in relationships not because it’s trendy, but because it’s the only sustainable way to lead humans who actually want to follow you.

How is this shift showing up in your world? I’d love to hear your experiences and perspectives in the comments.