The results are in and the news isn’t good for political leaders. According to a recent and expansive U.S. News & World Report/Harris Poll survey, 72% of people don’t trust them. But on the encouraging side, people also said exactly what it will take for them to earn the trust of most of us and it’s remarkably straightforward.

For too many untrusted leaders, it’s not a matter of being ignorant of what needs to be done to be considered a trustworthy and credible individual, it’s a matter of ego, priority, a choice and a focus on a different path to short-term personal gain. In business and public administration, it’s often much more expedient for people in power and control to exert their egos and authority, for whatever allegedly righteous reason, and regardless of the long-term consequences. But consequences have long-term results, like the lack of trust that we see these days. Consider some advice.

If that’s not simple enough, you might consider the truth that most trust results from just doing what you say you are going to do.