Without confidence in her ability to achieve positive outcomes for the unit and team this would not have been possible. The dictionary defines trust as the ability to rely on the integrity, strength, or ability of a person or thing. These traits are largely reflected in transformational leadership. Idealized influence recognizes that respect is vital to building good relationships. Anne earned respect by treating the team as individuals and ensuring she knew what was important to us, was visible, accessible and encouraged open communication, something that is supported in the literature (Marion 2015, Bennis 2014). By taking an interest in individual careers and ensuring access to courses, Anne ensured we felt valued and this, in turn, created high levels of job satisfaction which translated into excellent patient care. By encouraging professional development, Anne challenged us to grow and strengthen our clinical practice. Anne was very involved in the day to day running of the unit and I feel this strengthened our trust in her as she was a very visible presence. However the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) (2009) argues that the role of leadership in nursing lacks definition and this is creating conflict as nurse leaders are trying to balance different aspects of their role. The RCN (2009) supports the restoration of the traditional supernumerary and authoritative ward sister