Trust Isn’t a Corporate Strategy. It’s Personal.

Last week’s Don’t Waste the Chaos conversation with John Hall (founder of Relevance.com, Calendar.com, and author of Top of Mind) was one of those rare ones that grounds you.

If you’ve ever felt the tug-of-war between serving your people and hitting your numbers, this episode will feel like a deep breath. We talked about trust, time, and culture, without the buzzwords - and the insights stuck with me.

Below are five of the most practical takeaways you can put to work this week.

1️⃣ Trust Isn’t a Corporate Strategy. It’s Personal.

John reminded me that people don’t trust logos or slide decks, they trust humans.

Trust begins in how you show up, how you follow through, and how you communicate when things change. It starts small, and it ripples outward through teams and organizations.

Try this (5 minutes):

Write one small promise you’ll keep this week - and tell your team you’re doing it.

Then close the loop Friday: “We said X on Monday, here’s the update.”

Small consistency builds big trust.

2️⃣ “Content Triggering”: Listen → Act → Stay Top of Mind

One of John’s best habits is what he calls content triggering - listening for micro-signals (a client’s pain point, a teammate’s goal) and responding with something meaningful.

It’s not about creating noise, it’s about showing you’re paying attention.

Try this (10 minutes):

Scan your last five emails or DMs. Circle one clue.

Send a simple “saw this and thought of you” resource or intro.

Log it: who, what triggered it, and what you sent.

Repeat weekly. Relevance is built in moments like these.

3️⃣ Transparency Has a 90% Rule

Be transparent when it advances a mutually beneficial outcome.

Honesty matters, but honesty without context can create confusion instead of clarity.

Pair truth with care and a next step.

Template to try:

“Here’s what changed → what we learned → what we’re doing next → how this affects you.”

Transparency builds trust when it serves people, not just process.

4️⃣ Culture ≠ Perks. It’s Clarity + Collaboration.

The employees who stay aren’t wooed by ping-pong tables or cold brew - they stay for meaningful work with people they trust.

Culture is built when people understand how their work connects to the mission and when collaboration feels safe and supported.

Quick audit (score 1–5):

My team knows how their metrics affect company outcomes.

Each role has 3–5 clear success measures.

We collaborate on hard problems, no one’s on an island.

Any 3s or lower? That’s your next leadership focus.

5️⃣ Burnout: Protect People and Health First

Even in seasons of growth, burnout creeps in when health and connection slip.

John’s reminder was simple: your two anchors are good humans around you and basic health habits you actually keep.

Tonight’s 3×3 Ritual (2 minutes):

• Write tomorrow’s top 3 outcomes (not tasks).

• Block them on your calendar.

• Hold the boundary - and enjoy the humans in your life.

Listen to the Full Conversation:

If you need a reminder that leadership is more about people than performance, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation with John Hall here : https://youtu.be/rVSlkValq0M?si=u9lD_CNN0GJVFd_M