ABSTRACT
In terms of building trust, steadfastness is the best description of what the authors mean by being consistent, because steadfastness suggests an adherence to the same principles over time. When leaders exhibit a consistent commitment to principles, they build trust in themselves and in the organization. This consistent commitment to doing what is right enables leaders to advocate for a teacher or for a student who has been wronged and needs support, or to hire a person who may not be the popular choice but who they believe is the best fit for a particular position. Effective leaders make consistent, principled decisions many times a day, yet they are rarely described as heroes. Trust-building leaders do not do the same thing every day in the same way, but they can be trusted to be consistent in making decisions that are reflective of their guiding principles.
