When Trust Makes Following Possible

The moment was ordinary. Two people on a bicycle, moving slowly through a narrow street, with no urgency, no instruction, and no visible control. What stood out wasn’t who was steering, but who was sitting behind: relaxed, unguarded, and willing to come along.

In organisations, that same dynamic is often the clearest signal of leadership. Not authority or instruction, but the ease with which others are willing to follow. When people feel safe, they don’t brace themselves or manage risk defensively. They engage, contribute, and move with confidence.

Leadership shows up less in how direction is asserted, and more in how safe others feel following it. Trust isn’t declared; it’s felt in small moments — in how decisions are made, how mistakes are handled, and how power is used. When people feel safe, they lean in rather than hold on.

Leadership is who feels safe riding with you.

David R. Smith