Lessons learned: The speed of trust

Jojo Thomas

The ability to lead others doesn’t start with power; it starts with trust. ”

Nobody follows a leader they don’t trust. It just doesn’t happen. You and I might respect someone’s role, and so refuse to criticize. And we might give them time to prove themselves, or give evidence of something better/stronger after a series of missteps. But that’s about as far as it goes. Nobody plunges headlong into new, uncharted territory (especially where considerable risk is involved) behind a leader they’re not sure about. 

Everybody knows this is how things work… theoretically. But when it comes to how we actually try to lead, we act like we don’t know. Whether it’s due to pride, peer pressure, an “urgent” opportunity, the “certainty” of our logic, or just enthusiasm after reading the latest book, leaders regularly ignore this principle. They initiate major changes before their followers have learned to trust them. The casualties of this – church & personal – are everywhere.

So what might protect us from this? Here are a few things to think about:

1. Speed isn’t necessarily your friend. That’s not to say we should ignore moments of opportunity. There really are times when delay equals loss. But if the “opportunity” calls for a level of trust in leadership you know you haven’t earned yet, it’s more like a temptation. 
2. Trust is always earned (never mandated). I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched leaders place confidence in the fact that they were able to change the church bylaws. Once the paper says they have authority (i.e., power) to do something, they assume they’ve been “entrusted” with that authority. Not necessarily. 
3. Trust accumulates (both slowly & quickly). Business gurus used to write about “D.W.Y.S.Y.W.D.” – the basic practice of being dependable to “do what you say you will do.” It’s not rocket science; we make small deposits to the trust bank every time we show up on time for an appointment, follow through on a promise, etc. But we also make (larger) deposits when we step up to a challenge, go beyond what’s expected, or act with integrity. Don’t squander those opportunities.
4. Trust grows in inverse proportion to demands for it. People mistrust politicians, salespeople, or preachers who press for increased power. And remarkably, they grant more trust to people who don’t ask for it (but merely serve them well).
5. Trust can be loaned. You can’t win everyone’s confidence by yourself. (Nobody succeeds that way). But if you share what God’s laid on your heart with others who are trusted, they can “lend” their credibility to what you’re proposing. People jump on board because they trust someone else. And in the end, after the idea bears fruit, they’re likely to increase trust in you.
6. Trust is worth guarding. More than anything else, trust is the currency of leadership. Never violate it. 

The ability to lead others doesn’t start with power; it starts with trust. 

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Dr. G. J. (Jojo) Thomas served as the Associational Missionary Strategist for the Chattahoochee Baptist Association since May 2005 until his retirement at the end of 2025. Prior to his ministry with CBA, he served 23 years as founding pastor of Annistown Road Baptist Church in Snellville, Georgia. He is a graduate of University of Georgia, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Doctorate of Ministry.