What a Road Trip Taught Me About Leadership and Trust

This Michigan winter has stretched on endlessly, feeling more like a year-long expedition than a season. So when mid-winter break arrived, my family and I seized the opportunity to chase some warmth and water. The plan was simple—pile into the car, hit the road, and minimize stops along the way.

But road trips, much like leadership, have a way of teaching us lessons we don’t expect.

Not long into our drive, the conditions turned against us. Snow and freezing temperatures made the roads slick, and to make matters worse, I was driving our family minivan—not my usual set of wheels. Still, I was determined to keep moving forward. Stopping wasn’t an option.

About 45 minutes in, I hit black ice. The van shifted slightly—enough for my wife to notice, though the kids were oblivious. She mentioned the wind, but I knew better. Ice and wind feel very different when you're the one driving.

A few more slick spots later, the kids started to pick up on what was happening. I got a few polite (and then not-so-polite) suggestions that I might want to slow down. But I was still focused on the goal—getting to warmth and water as fast as possible. I adjusted my approach slightly, easing off the gas under bridges where ice was more likely, but I was still pushing forward.

Then it happened. I fell back into my normal “go” pattern, forgetting to ease up as I approached a bridge. The moment my tires hit the ice, the van lurched sideways. In an instant, we were slipping out of control. I gripped the wheel, staying as calm as I could, but the chaos around me said otherwise. My family was yelling, bracing for impact, and when we finally regained traction, the silence that followed was heavier than words.

From that moment on, every little slip made everyone tense up. Every bridge, every turn, every unexpected movement had us all bracing ourselves. It took getting out of the icy conditions entirely—onto dry, safe roads—before the tension finally lifted.

That drive made me think about leadership and trust, and here’s what I realized:

Leaders Set the Pace, But Conditions Demand Adjustments

As leaders, we often have a clear vision of where we want to go and an urgency to get there. But just like driving in winter weather, conditions change, and if we’re not careful, our speed can become a liability rather than an advantage.

I was so focused on getting to our destination that I ignored the real-time conditions. I adjusted only slightly—easing off the gas under bridges—but I didn’t truly change my approach until I lost control. In leadership, pushing forward without adapting to the realities your team is facing can have the same effect. Are you moving at a pace that keeps your team safe and steady, or are you risking a slide-out?

When Trust is Ignored, Confidence Erodes

At first, my family trusted me to handle the drive. But as the slips became more frequent and their warnings went unheeded, their confidence in me started to wane. Eventually, my failure to listen cost us—when I lost control of the van, I also lost a measure of their trust.

Teams work the same way. They can sense when things are off, even if they don’t have all the details. When concerns are raised but brushed aside, people lose faith in leadership. And when confidence erodes, trust is hard to rebuild. Leaders must recognize when their team is signaling discomfort and act before the situation forces a correction.

Once Tension Builds, It Takes Time to Restore Calm

After that big slide, every small slip made everyone in the car uneasy—even when the road was safe again. The same thing happens in business. Once a team has experienced instability, they don’t immediately go back to feeling secure. Even if you correct course, they remain on edge, waiting for the next slip-up.

As leaders, it’s our responsibility to restore that sense of stability. It’s not enough to say, “Everything is fine now.” We must show, through consistent actions, that the road ahead is truly safe.

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t just about getting to the destination—it’s about ensuring that your team arrives safely, confidently, and together.

The question is: Are you driving in a way that builds trust? Or are you leaving your team gripping the edges of their seats, just hoping they make it through the ride?