As a 21-year Navy Chief, one thing I know for certain is this: you rarely get another chance to build trust. This is especially true when the stakes are high. Whether you’re in combat, leading sailors at sea, guiding your team through a corporate storm—trust is your currency.
If you lose it, everything else becomes a hard-fought battle.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Whether you’re a parentpreneur trying to be more intentional with your time, or a corporate leader aiming to develop more resilient teams, trust is crucial. It is the glue that holds everything together.
This week, we’re diving into:
- What breaks trust (and how to avoid it)
- The framework I use to build and rebuild trust in any environment
- A personal story from the frontlines of leadership
How Can I Build and Maintain Trust with My Team and My Family?
Life is chaotic. Schedules clash. Priorities compete. You say “yes” because you mean well, but sometimes, you drop the ball.
And in those small moments, trust takes a hit.
Now here’s the kicker… most of us don’t lose trust in one big catastrophic failure. We lose it in a series of small, missed moments. That text we didn’t send. That deadline we slipped on. That family dinner we promised, then skipped for “just one more meeting.”
The S.E.A.L. TRUST™ Model
You know I love acronyms, and this one comes straight from my time in uniform and as a Hospital Corpsman:
S.E.A.L. TRUST™ Model is:
A 5-step system to Strengthen, Establish, Align, and Lead with trust.
Here’s the breakdown:
S – Show Up Consistently
You build trust by being present. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally—at work and at home.
E – Execute Commitments
Your word is your bond. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Under-commit. Over-deliver.
A – Acknowledge Mistakes
You don’t lose trust by being wrong. You lose it by not owning it. Apologize. Fix it. Learn.
L – Listen with Intent
Leaders who listen earn more than respect—they earn loyalty. Listening isn’t waiting to talk—it’s seeking to understand.
T – Transparency Builds Trust
Whether it’s your spouse or your team, people appreciate honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable.
A Wake-Up Call on Trust
During a deployment overseas, I was leading a small medical team in a high-stress environment. Every day was unpredictable. It was the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. There was fear of the unknown. I felt the weight of keeping everyone mission-ready.
One day, I told a junior corpsman I’d review his training/evaluation file and give him feedback before the end of the week. Simple task, right?
But the week got away from me. I prioritized operational tasks, got pulled into meetings, and frankly—I forgot. When he followed up, I brushed it off with a quick, “Yeah, I’ll get to it.”
A few days later, one of my senior sailors overheard this sailor say: “Chief always says he’s gonna follow up, but nothing ever comes back.”
That stopped me cold. Not because he was wrong—but because he was right.
It was a gut punch. I realized that **saying what you’re going to do does not automatically build trust—**actions do. And when you’re in a leadership seat, your silence becomes a statement.
From that day on, I built what I now call the “24-Hour Accountability Rule.” If I commit to anything—feedback, support, follow-up—I either deliver within 24 hours or communicate why I can’t. No gray zones.
Trust wasn’t just a concept in the Navy—it was survival. And when you lose it, it’s hell trying to get it back.
That moment changed how I led—both in uniform and now as a coach and father. I stopped overpromising and started intentionally showing up with clarity, consistency, and courage.
What If I’ve Already Broken Trust?
Good news: Over time, trust can be rebuilt.
Start here:
- Acknowledge the breach. Own it—no excuses.
- Apologize with action. Words are cheap. Change shows commitment.
- Re-establish expectations. Be clear about what will change and how you’ll follow through.
Here’s what I want you to remember:
Trust isn’t built in grand gestures. It’s earned in daily, intentional actions.
Be the leader who delivers. The parent who shows up. The partner who listens. That’s how you win—at work and at home.
📥 Comment with the word TRUST to get: The Trust Triangle Guide
📘 Want to lead with more intention? Grab my Intentional Leader Roadmap here.
