“Learning to be trustworthy cannot begin too early.”
Dear leader,
I had arranged to pick up the Granddaughter one Saturday.
She has a propensity to lay in, so she said to do so after 10. I suggested 11 – this was perfect for her: she readily agreed.
Come Saturday, however, she was not contactable, so we didn’t meet up. During the week I spoke with her and asked her what had happened. She said: “you know what I’m like; I can’t get up at the weekends.”
True that!
I, nonetheless, reminded her that it was she who suggested that I pick her up at 10, thus giving her time to get up and get ready, but then I gave her an extra hour: to which she agreed. I explained to her that if she does not keep to what is agreed, it makes it difficult for people to trust her.
She responded that she “doesn’t expect anyone to trust her!”
Now, she was “only” 11 when she said this, but it hit me hard. I asked her why she felt that way, but I didn’t get much of a response. It left a mark on me though, and later I thought about it and realised that I would have to help her to learn an important life lesson.
Note to Self!
Being trusted is one of the most important aspects of life. It is a foundation stone of all successful relationships.
For a leader, trust is indispensably essential.
Without trust you have nothing on which to build. Learning that lesson cannot begin too early in life. If this is important for an 11 year-old, how much more so for a young adult, an aspiring professional, or a would-be leader?
Living Life, Learning Lessons!
Live | Learn | Lead
