11 Traits of Canada’s Most Trusted Executive Teams in 2026

Key Takeaways

• 11 traits of trusted executive leadership define how leaders build credibility, integrity, and transparency in 2026.
• High-trust executive teams drive employee engagement, retention, and organizational resilience during uncertainty.
• Signs of a trustworthy executive team include fairness, appreciation, and clear communication across all levels.
• Trusted executive leadership balances short-term performance with long-term vision, ensuring sustainable success.
• Building trust at the top is essential for creating a culture where employees feel valued, respected, and heard.

 

The most trusted executive teams build credibility through integrity, transparency, and care—traits that shape culture and drive performance. In 2026, trusted executive leadership is more critical than ever as organizations navigate uncertainty, technological disruption, and evolving employee expectations.

Here’s what makes these leaders stand out and why trust remains the foundation of every great workplace.

Trust is at the heart of every good relationship.

In organizations, it is the glue that keeps people working together harmoniously and for a shared purpose. Indeed, our 30+ years of research shows that trust is the cornerstone of every Great Place To Work. And we know that trust starts with leaders. The most trusted executive teams understand this fundamental relationship and it’s their trustworthy behaviour, not their title or their charisma or even their bold vision, that enables them to engage more honestly, collaborate more openly, and inspire commitment especially during periods of uncertainty.

Great leaders build trust, which shapes the culture that drives performance.

Time and time again, great leaders build trust, and trust is what shapes the culture that drives performance. This is the Great Place To Work Effect and the Best Workplaces™ with Most Trusted Executive Teams practice these behaviours consistently and across all types of situations, creating a steady and reliable work environment that is able to build and sustain organizational success regardless of the external pressures it faces. An impressive 88% of employees at the organizations on our Most Trusted Executive Teams list say their executives fully embody the best characteristics of their company, and 91% believe their management to be honest and ethical.

 

So what makes employees trust senior leadership?

 Across organizations, industries, and cultures, the most trusted executive teams are authentic – they act with integrity, competence and care. They are consistent and they model the behaviours they want, and expect to be reflected, across the organization. They genuinely value people, they listen, and they appreciate all the little things that lead to big wins. In short, they are as interested in every person’s success as they are in the organization’s success and they work to achieve both each and every day.

Here are 11 traits the most trusted executive teams have in common, and how to spot a high-trust executive team.

 

1. Clear and Consistent Communication
Employees trust leaders who communicate openly and consistently. Trusted executive leadership teams share relevant information in a timely manner, they explain what is known and unknown, they outline risks and share plans to mitigate that risk, and they avoid trying to spin the truth even when the message is difficult.

 

2. Words Match Actions
High-trust executive teams close the gap between intention and behavior. Trusted leaders do what they say, they follow through on commitments and they model the behaviors they expect from others. When circumstances change requiring them to shift course, they explain why openly and transparently.

 

3. Integrity
Trust necessitates integrity. Employees trust leaders who act ethically, make principled decisions, and refuse to cut corners even when no one is watching. Trusted executive leadership teams hold themselves to the same (and often higher) standards than the rest of the organization and they do not ask others to compromise values for performance.

 

4. Respect for People at All Levels
High-trust executive teams treat all people with dignity, regardless of role or title. They show respect in how they listen and speak, and they consider how their decisions will impact others. This includes respecting frontline expertise, inviting diverse perspectives, and recognizing contributions beyond titles.

 

5. Transparency in Decision-Making
Employees don’t need to agree with every decision made but they do need to understand the “why” behind key decisions, especially those affecting peoples’ jobs, priorities, or organizational direction. Transparent leadership decisions limit the impact of the rumor mill and they build confidence in leaders’ judgment.

6. Accountability at the Top
One of the clearest indicators of high-trust executive teams is how they handle mistakes. When they take responsibility instead of assigning blame or pretending to have all the answers, trust deepens. This also translates into continuous improvement where executives demonstrate their willingness to learn and evolve alongside their people.

7. Fair and Equitable Practices
Employees are very sensitive to favoritism, inconsistency, and double standards. Trusted executive leadership teams apply policies fairly and with an equitable lens so that everyone can reach their full potential. When exceptions need to be made, the decision is explained clearly and thoughtfully in order to dispel any notion of preferred treatment.

 

8. Appreciation and Recognition
Feeling appreciated is a powerful driver of trust. Trusted executive leadership teams recognize contributions, acknowledge effort, and express genuine gratitude. Formal recognition programs as well as day-to-day thank-yous reinforce that leaders notice and value the work being done everyday.

 

9. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
High-trust executive teams understand that leadership is as much about relationships as it is about operations. They don’t back away from difficult emotions like stress and frustration, they respond with empathy, and they adjust their approach based on the person and what is happening in the moment.

 

10. Long-Term Thinking Over Short-Term Wins
Employees trust leaders who plan for the overall stability of the organization versus short-term gains or targets that benefit themselves personally. Trusted executive leadership balances short-term objectives with a long-term vision that focuses on building community, sustainability, talent development and organizational culture.

 

11. Unified Leadership
Trust erodes when executives appear divided, form alliances or contradict each other. High-trust executive teams handle their disagreements behind closed doors and then present a unified front prepared to stand together and speak with one voice to preserve the best interests of the organization and its people.

Signs of a Trustworthy Executive Team

• Management avoids playing favorites; employees believe effort and performance outweigh connections.
• Management shows appreciation for good work and extra effort; employees often put in extra effort to get the job done.
• Management is approachable and easy to talk with; employees feel leaders understand them.
• Management is competent at running the business; employees believe decisions are made with the organization’s future in mind.
• Management makes its expectations clear; employees receive consistent messaging from their leaders.

Why These Traits Matter More Than Ever

Technologies like AI are reshaping how work gets done and creating levels of uncertainty and complexity that our current working population has not experienced. In the face of this fear of the unknown, trust is a stabilizing factor that can make or break the work experience and bridge the organizational resilience needed to emerge stronger with a more committed and capable workforce.

The Best Workplaces™ with Most Trusted Executive Teams have committed to building high levels of trust, and while their employees don’t expect their executive leaders to solve every crisis or predict the future, they do trust that their leaders have their back and will tackle the challenges with them and with their best interests in mind. These 11 traits are the starting point for building your own trusted executive leadership team. A blueprint of sorts for high trust executive teams to create the conditions for people and organizations to succeed together.

Feedback

We value your feedback! Your insights are crucial to helping us create meaningful content. Did the insights in this article prompt new ways to build trust and credibility within your executive leadership team? Are there specific challenges you'd like us to address? Share your suggestions or ideas with us. Together, we can develop resources that truly make a difference. Have feedback? Fill out this form by clicking here. 

---