Fewer people trust you as a ministry leader. But don't take it personal. You're not alone.
A recent Gallup poll says Americans' rating of the honesty and ethics of the clergy has fallen to 47%, the first time this rating has dropped below 50% since Gallup first asked about the clergy in 1977.
Clergy have historically ranked near the top among professions on this measure, hitting a high rating of 67% in 1985.
![Trend: The Clergy's Honesty and Ethical Standards](http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/hli8kvobh0gb9djsujqrng.png)
![U.S. Views on Honesty and Ethical Standards in Professions, December 2013](http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/uladil7rkkq8p7pdhqcudg.png)
You can't control what other leaders do...but you can lead yourself well and maintain trust with those you influence directly.
In this post, I share16 ways you can maintain the trust of the people you lead and minister to.