Building Trust When You’re Not in Charge
What Second Chair Leaders Need to Know About Influence and Integrity
One of the greatest myths in leadership is that trust flows automatically from position.
But Second Chair leaders know better.
You’re not at the top of the org chart. You don’t always get the final say. You often don’t even get the credit.
And yet, you’re expected to lead. Not by force, but by influence.
Not by title, but by trust.
So how do you build that kind of trust when you’re not the one in charge?
You build it deliberately. And you build it daily.
Trust Starts With How You Walk
People don’t just trust what you say. They trust:
- How consistent you are.
- How you carry weight.
- How you show up when things get tense.
Trust isn’t charisma. It’s predictability plus integrity over time.
And Second Chair leaders have an incredible opportunity to model both.
Three Ways to Build Trust From the Second Chair
1. Show Loyalty in Public, Candor in Private
Trust with your First Chair, starts with safety.
That means you never undermine in public. You ask hard questions in private.
You support the decision once it’s made, even if you wouldn’t have made it.
That’s not being a ‘yes-person.’ That’s being a stabilizer.
2. Take Hits Without Passing Blame
When something goes wrong, the Second Chair’s role isn’t to deflect.
It’s to absorb.
Say “we” instead of “they.”
Say “I missed it” instead of “he didn’t tell me.”
Trust is built when people see you own problems, not assign them.
3. Deliver the Same Presence Every Day
Some leaders shift based on who’s in the room. Don’t be that leader.
Show up steady. Show up real. And let people know they’re safe to be honest around you.
That presence? It builds trust faster than any strategy ever could.
Ask Yourself:
- Am I a safe person for my team and my First Chair?
- When I give feedback, do people feel supported or scrutinized?
- Do I build trust more by what I say or how I carry myself?
Want a Coaching Tool That Helps Define What You Carry?
Grab the Second Chair Clarity Guide, a free tool to define your leadership lane and walk in it with confidence.
And if you’re leading without trust, let’s change that.
Book a free Discovery Call to unpack the tensions you’re navigating and build a practical path forward.
Because trust isn’t given. It’s earned. And you’re the kind of leader who’s ready to do the work.
Two Chairs | One Mission
Where trust grows and leadership multiplies.
