Why trust is the hidden barrier to AI transformation

Nearly a quarter of leaders still believe AI has no impact on their leadership challenges today—revealing a critical gap in leadership awareness that could leave organizations playing catch-up when it’s too late.. And yet, ignoring that gap doesn’t make it go away—it makes progress even harder to achieve.

While leaders are setting bold AI ambitions, the teams expected to deliver them are still unsure if they belong in that future—or if they’ll be left behind. And can you blame them?

The trust gap is wider than you think

After years of layoffs, cost-cutting, and change initiatives that promised more than they delivered, trust in leadership is already fragile. In fact, trust in immediate managers has dropped from 46% to just 29% in two years, while trust in senior leaders holds steady at a low 32%.

Add AI to the mix—with its very real threat of automation replacing jobs—and it’s no wonder employees are asking themselves, “What happens to me?”

Here’s the thing most organizations are missing. AI doesn’t just change what work gets done. It changes who does the work, how decisions get made, and what value humans bring to the table. That’s a much bigger shift than any new tool or technology.

Beyond tech skills: Why AI demands trust-building leadership

If you’re like most leaders I’ve talked to lately, you’re already being bombarded with AI headlines and hot takes. And that leaves you with a practical leadership challenge. How do you make AI transformation real and relatable for your teams—without leaving anyone behind in the process?

And trust isn’t built by rolling out new tools or sending another company-wide announcement. It’s built when you stop guessing what’s holding your teams back and start listening for what they need to move forward.

According to the DDI Leadership Forecast, 61% of executives say AI is already fully implemented in their organizations… but only 36% of employees agree. That’s the kind of disconnect that stalls real momentum.

The truth is, it’s not a skills gap that’s slowing you down. It’s a trust gap. When people don’t feel part of the change—when they’re left guessing how AI will impact their work, their teams, and their future—they pull back. They wait it out. They resist.

And in moments like these, trust isn’t optional—it’s what separates teams that move forward from teams that get stuck.

At Torch, we believe trust starts with leaders who can:

• Make space for real, unfiltered conversations—even when the answers aren’t clear yet.
• Navigate your own uncertainty with honesty, not bravado.
• Help your teams see not just what’s changing, but why it matters—and how they can play a meaningful role.

While AI will inevitably change roles—and, in some cases, replace them—it can also unlock something more powerful. It can create space for teams to shift their focus to bigger problems, smarter solutions, and new ways of working. But that shift starts with trust.

What trust really looks like in an AI transformation

Trust gets talked about like it’s some kind of feeling. Something you either have or you don’t. But the truth is, trust shows up (or doesn’t) in what you do every day as a leader.

It’s how you show up when you don’t have all the answers. It’s whether you invite your teams into the conversation or leave them in the dark. It’s how you navigate the messy middle when AI disruption feels more like confusion than clarity.

Here are four leadership capacities we’ve seen make the difference:

• Self-awareness in uncertainty. The leaders who build trust aren’t the ones pretending to have it all figured out. They’re the ones willing to say, “I’m learning this alongside you.” That kind of honesty builds a climate of trust—making it safe for your teams to do the same.
• Clarity in complexity. When AI feels abstract or overwhelming, your teams need you to help them make sense of it. Spot the patterns. Frame the possibilities. Help people find their role in the bigger picture.
• Transparency in decisions. AI will change how work gets done—and not every decision will be easy. But when you bring your team along for the “why,” you build trust that lasts longer than any single announcement.
• Supportive leadership. People aren’t resisting change because they don’t care. They’re resisting because they don’t feel supported. When you invest in your team’s growth—helping them stretch into new, more meaningful work—you create the conditions for both trust and innovation.

That’s exactly what we do at Torch. Our contextual coaching helps you practice these capacities in the moments that matter most—so trust isn’t something you talk about. It’s something you build, one conversation at a time.

Closing the gap between ambition and reality

We know from our 2025 Leadership Evolution Survey that only 32% of leaders feel prepared for AI-driven change, while over half say their teams are already struggling to adapt to constant disruption. That’s the gap holding most organizations back—the gap between big AI ambitions and what’s really happening on the ground.

That’s where coaching comes in. Because you don’t need more AI theory or tech demos. You need support where the uncertainty is showing up—in your real, everyday leadership moments.

That’s where Torch comes in. Our contextual coaching approach meets you right where you are:

• Contextual coaching, real challenges. We don’t coach in the abstract. We coach in the context of your AI transformation—helping you navigate real situations with real people, in real time.
• A two-way feedback loop. Our coaching creates a living bridge between what you’re experiencing and what your organization needs to learn. You gain confidence, and your organization gains insights about what’s really holding change back.
• Coaches who’ve been there. Our coaches aren’t just certified professionals—they’re experienced leaders who’ve navigated change themselves. They know how to help you build confidence where it counts.

Experience the 90-Day Shift

And if you’re ready to move fast? Our 90-Day Shift for AI is designed to help you quickly uncover what’s really standing in the way of change—and build a clear path forward.

Over half of leaders say their teams are already struggling to adapt to constant disruption. The 90-Day Shift for AI helps you uncover what’s really getting in the way—so you can move from stalled to scaling.

When the path isn’t clear, trust becomes how you move forward. And the 90-Day Shift for AI is how you activate it—helping you build momentum now, while setting you up for what’s next.

Trust is the leadership advantage AI can’t replace

AI might be evolving fast—but your people are still the ones who will make or break your transformation. Because AI on its own can’t build trust. It can’t bring your teams with you. And it definitely can’t close the gap between strategy and execution.

That’s what leadership does. Leaders like you who create space for your teams to ask the hard questions—together. Leaders who model transparency, even when the answers aren’t easy.

As your trusted partner, that’s what we help you build at Torch.

• Through contextual coaching that connects directly to your business goals.
• Through leadership insight that reveals what’s really standing in the way of change—not just for you, but across your teams, systems, and culture.
• And through capacity-building that helps leaders and organizations evolve together—strengthening leadership at every level, while closing the gap between strategy at the top and execution on the ground.

That’s the Torch difference. Leadership development designed for the realities of leading in the AI era.

No matter how fast AI moves, it’s the choices you make—and the trust you build—that set the direction for your organization. Ready to lead the way? Let’s talk.