Trusted Leader

A research-backed framework for building the kind of trust that reduces turnover, strengthens teams, and makes leaders genuinely worth following.

Most leadership problems trace back to a single root cause: a breakdown in trust. This book gives leaders at every level a clear, proven model for diagnosing where trust is eroding and rebuilding it systematically, drawing on original research and years of work with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies worldwide.

Trusted Leader is structured as two books in one: an engaging business parable and a practical implementation guide.

• The story: Follow CEO Ethan Parker as a looming product deadline exposes deep cracks in his team's trust, and learn alongside him as he discovers the Eight Pillars framework during an unplanned week at a mountain resort
• The framework: Clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connection, contribution, and consistency, each with dedicated application chapters, diagnostic tools, and strategies you can put to work immediately
• What you'll gain: Practical approaches to reducing attrition, increasing team alignment, setting clearer priorities, and becoming the most trusted voice in your field
• Who it's for: Senior leaders, managers, HR professionals, and anyone responsible for building a high-performance culture, including those leading through change or rebuilding after a trust breakdown
• Real-world grounding: Endorsed by leaders at Anytime Fitness, Caribou Coffee, Red Wing Shoes, Penn State, and the Colorado Rockies, with case examples showing measurable results including a 30 percent reduction in turnover

If your team is underperforming, misaligned, or quietly disengaged, this book offers a structured, repeatable path forward.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• The Story
• The Application
• Next Steps
• The Research
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Author

“A pivotal guide for today's leader!” -John Maxwell, #1 New York Times bestselling author and speaker

“You will be inspired to build trust in your interactions with others-whether or not you have a leadership title. It might be invisible, but trust must be present for any relationship to work.”-Shep Hyken, Forbes

“Trusted Leader provides an actionable framework to impact meaningful team effectiveness and performance improvements.”-Dina Howell, former CEO and President, Saatchi & Saatchi X

“Trusted Leader by David Horsager is two books in one: an engaging parable and a comprehensive resource. Read the book, apply the lessons, and be a Trusted Leader!” -Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level

“You want an organization of high trust leaders? Teach Horsager's framework in this book and you'll have teams where people are performing at their best.” -Dr. Nido Qubein, President, High Point University

“Trust is the only way to effective political leadership. Trusted Leader is the practical tool to build and reinforce trust as a nation and as an organization.”-Hon. Sam Poghisio, Senate Majority Leader, Republic of Kenya

“Trust is central to leadership and should never be compromised. Everyone should read Trusted Leader.”-Bill Groves, SVP & CDO, Walmart Inc.

“If you are going to read one book this year, read this one!”-Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

“Trust must be at the center of every organization. This book is both powerful and incredibly relevant.” -Mark Urdahl, CEO, Red Wing Shoes

“Anyone wanting to take their team to the next level must read this book!” -Greg Feasel, COO, Colorado Rockies

“I've worked in politics for 30 years and I know at least one thing to be true: If a leader loses trust, they lose everything. Horsager's book provides a must-read road map for any leader who wants to win and keep the trust of people they hope to lead.” -Nancy Jacobson, CEO, No Labels

“LEADERSHIP can't happen without TRUST. In Trusted Leader, David defines how to accelerate performance at the highest level.” -Dave Mortensen, co-founder & president, Anytime Fitness, LLC

“Trust is a universal connector that transcends geography and culture, and David provides a thoughtful 'how-to' guide that resonates with people around the globe.” -Karl Hick, CDO, Takeda Pharmaceuticals

“If you are a leader of anything, Trusted Leader will propel you forward!” -Verne Harnish, founder of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up

“In Trusted Leader, David provides the solid foundation and actionable framework to build trust that leads to real change.” -Michele Freeman, retired chief, City of Las Vegas Department of Public Safety