Last Updated on May 18, 2025
Want to lead? Don’t wait for permission.
In nearly every role I’ve held—from the military to tech to founding an organization—the pattern has been the same: you get trusted before you get titled.
Your influence doesn’t begin when someone gives you authority. It begins when people start relying on you to bring clarity, calm, and forward motion.
What Trust Really Looks Like
You’re already leading if:
- People loop you in when things feel unclear
- Teammates ask for your opinion before making decisions
- Leaders ask you to “weigh in” even when it’s not your job
That’s trust. And trust is the raw material of leadership.
Titles Follow Behavior
Most people think they’ll step into leadership once they have the role.
But it almost never works that way.
What actually happens:
- You show up consistently
- You solve things no one else wants to touch
- You model calm, thoughtful decision-making
Eventually, someone says:
“We should formalize what you’re already doing.”
How to Cultivate Trust Before Authority
1. Solve What Matters
Pick up the problems that slow others down. You’ll earn trust by making life easier for the people around you.
2. Communicate With Clarity
People trust those who can name what’s happening and what’s next. Don’t just do the work—narrate it.
3. Be Consistent, Not Flashy
Leaders aren’t built on hot takes or heroics. They’re built on calm, consistent presence that others can depend on.
4. Lead Laterally First
Don’t wait to manage a team. Lead your peers. Offer support. Connect departments. Align without authority.
A Lesson from the Field
In Special Forces, rank mattered. But trust mattered more.
You could spot real leaders by who people followed when it counted. Not because they had to—but because they wanted to.
That lesson followed me into every team I’ve been part of since. Leadership isn’t announced. It’s earned.
Closing
If you’re waiting for a title to give you permission to lead, you’re already behind.
Start where you are. Earn trust. Lead now.
And if you’re on this journey too—let’s connect. You’re not alone in figuring it out as you go.
