How Do I Get 1% Better Today?
The Answer – Build Trust.
The first responsibility of a coach—and really any leader—is to build trust. Everything rises and falls on it. Without trust, there is no influence. Without influence, leadership becomes nothing more than a title.
Trust is built on three dimensions: character, competence, and connection. Character is your ethical foundation—people must believe in who you are. Competence is your technical ability—people must believe you can do the job. Connection is personal—people must feel that you care about them. All three must be present for trust to truly exist.
Here’s the truth: behavior trumps role every single time. Your title might open the door, but your behavior determines whether people follow. Trust is not about what you have—it’s about what you consistently deliver to others through their experience with you.
And people experience you in three ways every day. They feel your attitude. They see your actions. They hear your words. Whether you realize it or not, you are always communicating. You are always building—or breaking—trust.
Leadership is not positional authority. It is personal credibility earned through consistent behavior. Authority may get compliance, but influence earns commitment. When people do something because they have to, that’s authority. When they do it because they want to, that’s influence.
So today, focus on what matters most. Show up with the right attitude. Back it up with the right actions. Speak life with your words. And build trust—one interaction at a time.
Never stop getting better.
John Perry
Source: The “OG” Brian Kight