As a Leadership Strategist and Keynote Speaker, and as a mother raising a daughter who is watching everything I do, I have come to believe this deeply: one of the simplest, most powerful commitments you can make to your career, your business, your work, and even your relationships is to 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.
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We talk a lot about competence, skills, certifications and strategy. And yes, all these matter. They open doors and tell people that you know what you are doing because they signal intelligence and capability. But reliability is what makes people have a firm belief in you.
This is why I always say that competence might get you invited into the room. Reliability is what makes someone hand you the keys and say, “I trust you. Take it from here.”
If you want more opportunities in life, you have to start small: Deliver on the little things. Reply when you say you will. Prepare before a meeting. Keep your word, especially when it would be easy not to, and especially when no one is watching.
Reliability compounds. Quietly. Powerfully. Over time, people begin to describe you in a way that carries weight in any professional setting: “You can count on them.” That reputation does not trend online. It does not always look impressive on the surface. But it builds trust. And trust builds influence.
At home, I tell my daughters that leadership is not about being the loudest in the room. It is about being the one others can lean on without hesitation. The one whose word means something.
The same is true for you: Be the person others can rely on. Not occasionally. Not when it is convenient. Not only when you are being evaluated. It has to be always. Because when people feel safe placing responsibility in your hands, your career stops depending on luck. It starts with resting on trust.
