HR Magazine – Beyond Starmer: Five ways HR can help leaders earn trust

By Penny Haslam, published in HR Magazine - July 2026

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Article summary - HR Magazine - Beyond Starmer: Five ways HR can help leaders earn trust

A new leader may arrive with a clear brief, plenty of energy and an ambitious vision for the future. But if they step into an organisation shaped by change, conflict, disappointment or low trust, charging ahead too quickly can do more harm than good.

In this HR Magazine article, Bit Famous MD Penny Haslam explores the critical role HR can play in helping leaders earn trust from the moment they arrive. Her argument is simple: before a leader can take people forward, they need to understand what those people have already been through.

That means briefing them on more than the structure, strategy and performance figures. HR can help them read the emotional weather of the organisation, recognise where trust has been damaged and understand which issues need acknowledging before people will be ready to listen.

Penny sets out five practical ways HR can support a leader through those first vital weeks. These include helping them understand the mood of the workforce, shaping messages that speak to both the heart and the mind, preparing them to handle difficult questions without hiding behind corporate language, and equipping managers to continue the conversation across the business.

She also makes the case for genuine visibility. Trust is not built through a single launch speech, staged photo opportunity or carefully scripted town hall. It grows through repeated, everyday moments: site visits, team meetings, corridor conversations, video calls and honest answers to awkward questions.

The article is a reminder that leadership communication is not simply about saying the right thing. It is about listening properly, understanding context and showing people that their experiences have been recognised.

For HR, this creates a valuable opportunity. By helping new leaders communicate clearly, appear consistently and respond credibly, people professionals can give them a far better chance of building trust, stabilising the organisation and taking people with them.

Read the full article by Penny Haslam, Bit Famous in HR Magazine