Building long-term trust beyond verbal promises

Leaders launching programs without trust are building dream homes on unstable ground. Trust forms the solid foundation that makes all other leadership efforts possible. Without it, every program—no matter how innovative—collapses under pressure. Think of trust as your organization's shock absorber. When market conditions shift, strategies pivot, or difficult decisions arise, trust ensures your team adapts rather than fractures. Without established trust, even your best initiatives quickly lose credibility: • An innovative employee-experience project feels superficial. • Conscious leadership training is dismissed as performative. • New DEI efforts are viewed cynically as compliance exercises. Building trust doesn't require complex theories—just consistent, predictable actions: • Clearly outline what's coming next quarter, and then deliver exactly as promised. • Regularly communicate updates, maintaining transparency even during quiet periods. • Address unavoidable changes openly, providing clear context and sufficient notice. I've seen this approach succeed repeatedly. One executive team facing significant distrust after leadership turnover made three clear promises for Q1. They met each commitment exactly as promised and communicated the results transparently. Within two quarters, their trust metrics improved by 12%. Start simply: Commit to one concrete action your team can count on in the next month—and follow through precisely. Invest first in trust. Every other initiative depends entirely upon it.

“𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔.” – 𝑲𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒌 During my time at Under Armour, our founder and CEO Kevin Plank had a whiteboard outside his office covered in powerful quotes. This one stood out and it stuck with me. Kevin was one of the most inspirational leaders and storytellers I’ve worked for, and this philosophy has guided how I build and sustain relationships, both professionally and personally. Think about your own relationships with brands. They’re built slowly over time on consistent product quality, customer care, and company values. But trust is fragile. One bad product experience or a failed service moment can shift your entire perception in an instant. 🤝 Having spent my career building high-impact strategic partnerships with some of the world’s most recognizable brands, I’ve seen firsthand that trusted relationships are the bedrock of successful partnerships. Whether you’re negotiating mutual gain solutions with partners or aligning internal cross-functional stakeholders, trust isn’t optional - it’s essential. The truth is that trust takes time. It’s earned through consistent investment, not one-time gestures. In today’s fast-paced world, we often look for quick wins or shortcuts, but trust doesn’t work that way. In fact, big, flashy moves can raise eyebrows. People question motives. They wonder if it’s real or just a one-off. Over the years, I’ve learned a few key principles that help build long-term trusted relationships: 1 // Show up Half the battle is consistency. You need the discipline to show up every day, especially when it’s hard. 2 // Put in the work Trust comes from rolling up your sleeves - doing the hard work, digging into the details, overcoming hurdles, and showing you're in it for the long haul. 3 // Lead with empathy Get to know people beyond the surface. Listen. Understand their goals. Break down assumptions and make them feel heard. 4 // Follow through Say what you’ll do. Do what you said. Simple, but rare. Words mean nothing without follow-through. 5 // Focus on the small things Trust is built in micro-moments. It's the accumulation of daily actions, not one big move, that makes a difference. 6 // Stay true to your values Authenticity matters. People can sense when you’re faking it. Be real. Be consistent. Be principled. In the end, building trusted relationships requires consistency, discipline, hard work, and a willingness to play the long game. The payoff? Stronger partnerships, deeper influence, and sustained success. As someone deeply passionate about fitness, I often draw parallels between building trust and training. You won’t see results with one four-hour workout. But 30 minutes a day, five days a week, over time? That builds real strength. The same applies to relationships: Show up. Work hard. Stay consistent. #StrategicPartnerships #TrustedRelationships #Consistency #Discipline #LongGameThinking

“But, you said we will get 4x ROAS!” In our industry, there’s always someone making louder promises. It’s tempting to join the race, promise big numbers, get the deal, deal with the fallout later. But here’s what most people miss: It’s easy to talk up results in a pitch deck. It’s much harder to build real, repeatable success in the wild. That’s why I’m a firm believer in that classic advice (Tom Peters said it best): “Under promise and over deliver.” Not because I want to play it safe, or because we can’t achieve bold results. But because I’ve seen what happens when the entire ecosystem starts chasing unrealistic benchmarks. Margins shrink, trust erodes, and clients hop agencies the minute a new, shinier offer comes along. This isn’t just about protecting my agency. It’s about building a healthy market where fair pricing, sustainable growth, and honest expectations win out over one-upmanship. I’ve worked both sides: corporate and agency. I know how much pressure there is to show up with “guarantees.” But now, I’d rather have tough conversations up front than scramble for explanations later. In business and in life, overpromising looks flashy but rarely pays off. A spouse who hears “I’ll bring you the stars” is happy for a day. But it’s showing up, doing the work, and quietly delivering more than you promised, that’s what sticks. I’d rather be the one who delivers steady, compounding wins than someone chasing their own hype. If you’ve ever faced the pressure to “promise the moon,” you know how tempting it is. But the real win? Building trust that outlasts the campaign.

How do you build long-term relationships with customers? It’s not about clever sales tactics. It’s about mindset. One of the biggest shifts I’ve learned is this: neediness is the enemy of trust. When a potential customer senses that your advice is driven by your own urgency or desire to close a deal, it sets off alarm bells—because it means your motives might not be aligned with their best interest. The alternative? Focus on being a trusted presence over time. ✔️ Show up consistently ✔️ Listen carefully ✔️ Offer value without strings attached When you’re guided by genuine curiosity and service, customers come to see you as a long-term partner—not a one-time vendor. That’s the foundation of loyalty and that’s how relationships endure.

In countries where trust takes longer to build (as is the case of most Asian markets), the most effective approach I’ve found is to bring real business to the table without expecting anything in return. If someone seems valuable, introduce them to a client, a partner, or an investor. Don’t ask for a favor or a cut. Just deliver. If they choose to reciprocate, that’s a green flag. If they don’t, that’s fine too because the point isn’t immediate return. It’s accelerating trust. All other forms of relationship-building, e.g., dinners, drinks, small talk, are way less valuable in comparison to this. Nothing builds goodwill like showing you can make people money while operating with integrity.

Early in my journey, I learned a simple yet powerful truth about investor relationships—it’s never just about the numbers. Performance matters, no doubt, but what truly cements long-term partnerships is transparency and trust. I remember a particularly tough quarter when we faced unexpected headwinds. The easy way out would have been to sugarcoat the situation, focus only on the positives, and hope for a better next quarter. Instead, we chose to be upfront—laying out the challenges, the reasons behind them, and most importantly, our plan to navigate through. What surprised me wasn’t just the investors’ understanding but their reinforced confidence in us. That moment reaffirmed that honesty is valued far more than perfection. Trust, on the other hand, isn’t built in a single conversation. It’s earned over time through consistency, ensuring that what we commit to aligns with what we deliver. Whether it’s staying true to our vision, making principled decisions, or keeping open lines of communication, trust is a byproduct of actions, not just words. Beyond balance sheets and presentations, investor relations, at its core, is about people. Behind every investment is an individual backing not just financial projections but a vision and a leadership team. Connecting on a human level—understanding their concerns, engaging in meaningful conversations, and aligning values—goes a long way in building lasting relationships. Today, investor expectations are evolving. It’s no longer just about financial returns; it’s about the larger impact a business creates—be it sustainability, governance, or contributing meaningfully to the ecosystem. Transparency in these areas is becoming as critical as financial disclosures. In many ways, trust and transparency are like the foundation of a building—often unseen, yet holding everything together. They are the reason our investors have stood by us through both successes and challenges. How do trust and transparency shape your relationships, in business or beyond? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #InvestorRelations #Transparency #Trust #Leadership #BusinessGrowth

Leadership trust isn’t about words. It’s about  what you do when no one’s watching… Most think trust is about being liked. It’s not. It’s about consistency. In 25+ years I have worked with 100s of leaders. And one insight stands out. Leadership trust is not built in big moments. It is built in small, repeatable actions. Here’s how: 1/ Micro-Promises Multiply ↳ Promise what seems too small. ↳ Deliver it 24 hours early. 2/ Expensive Truth Rule ↳ Share bad news first, in person. ↳ Say: “Here’s what I’m doing about it.” 3/ Power Hours ↳ Block 2-4 PM for crisis-only access. ↳ Protect focus time. Say "not now." 4/ Silent Defense ↳ Never defend yourself in meetings. ↳ Defend your team when they’re absent. 5/ Predictable Power ↳ Set auto-replies with exact response times. ↳ Beat your own deadlines by 10 minutes. 6/ Inverse Spotlight ↳ Take blame before facts are known. ↳ Praise moments, not just results. 7/ Crisis Capital ↳ Show up first when things break. ↳ Stay last until stability returns. → → Swipe to learn more see why these work When trust breaks? Don’t explain. Demonstrate. Act first. Apologize later. What will you add to this list? 👇 ↓ Save this for your next new leaders training ♻ Repost to help other leaders develop trust ➕ Follow Adi Agrawal for more leadership insights

"I don’t listen to what they say; I watch what they do (or don’t)." 👁️ It’s funny how life teaches you lessons in the 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀. Through all the betrayals, disappointments, and broken promises I have encountered, I’ve come to embrace a simple yet powerful mantra: ✊ 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆. It's human nature to exaggerate, make empty promises, and say whatever is convenient in the moment. Words are cheap, but their actions reveal the 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 of a person. Instead of being jaded and cynical about people, I chose to be more observant, more discerning in my relationships. I am no longer swayed by fancy words or grand promises - I observe, analyze, and wait. I let people show me who they truly are through their actions. And you know what? It is 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. It also made me a better judge of character. 🎭 𝗜 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲. I choose to surround myself with people who not only talk the talk but walk the walk. As the CEO of ConnectingDNA, this is important lesson I am deeply committed to embedding into our company culture. To me, trust isn’t just about the big things - it is in the small, everyday actions where it is 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 built or broken. Trust is anchored in consistency and reliability - it is in meeting deadlines, keeping promises, and being there when you say you will. In fact, neuroscience backs this up - studies have reveal that our brains have evolved to detect inconsistencies between what people say and what they do. It’s an ancient survival mechanism that has kept our species alive for millennia. Our brains are biologically hardwired to trust actions over words. So, the next time someone makes you a promise, don’t just listen - watch. Pay attention to their actions. The truth isn’t in what they say; it’s in what they do (or don’t do). 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, but losing it happens in an instant. Protect it, cherish it, and most importantly, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 take it for granted. 🎯 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘏𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯! - #Leadership #TrustMatters #LifeLessons #Integrity #PersonalGrowth #ActionsOverWords #Inspiration #HumanPotential #UnlockYourPotential (Meeting a trusted friend in business, and exploring the possibilities of bringing curated wellness experiences to companies ✨)

You know what’s more important than returns when raising capital? Communication. That’s what Fuquan said when I asked him how he’s built long-term investor trust—even when deals didn’t go as planned. Not everything will work out. Markets shift. Plans evolve. But hiding from hard conversations? That’s how you lose investors faster than a missed distribution. Fuquan shared how during the GFC, things got rough. For everyone. But he didn’t ghost his LPs. He picked up the phone. He told them the hard truth—even when it was uncomfortable. And here’s the wild part: that’s what kept people coming back. Because raising capital isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about building trust when the numbers aren’t in your favor. If you pay on time, communicate early, and own the tough moments—you earn something more valuable than money. You earn belief. If you're building a fund or raising for deals, remember: your spreadsheet might close a round once, but your character is what keeps the capital flowing. Want to swap stories or systems around investor comms? I’m down. #RaisingCapital #InvestorRelations #PrivateEquity #RealEstateInvesting #LPTrust #TransparencyMatters #GFCLessons #CapitalRaising #FundManagement #TrustAndTransparency #InvestorComms #LongTermThinking

I’ll never forget something a CEO taught me early in my career. He would stop by my desk regularly. No agenda. No formalities. At first, it felt routine. But over time, I began to see the pattern. Just a simple, “How’s it going?” At the time, it seemed insignificant – a polite hello. But now, I see it for what it was: a trust-building moment. His casual approach made it easier for me to open up, share my concerns, and speak honestly. It wasn’t about the words.  It was about the intention behind them. Trust doesn’t just happen. It’s built with consistency, action, and a lot of listening. As a leader today, I do my best to do the same. If your team isn’t approaching you, here’s what may help: - Be present.  ↳ When someone comes to you, put everything else aside and truly listen. - Avoid shutting them down.  ↳ The first “no” can be the last time they trust you with their ideas. - Go to them.  ↳ Don’t wait for trust to walk through your door, go and build it where they are. Here’s something not many will tell you: If your team isn’t coming to you, it’s not on them. It’s on you. So go to them. Because trust isn’t a gift – it’s a responsibility.