🎇 "I Trust You." The value of 3 words.

My 12-year-old son struggles with executive functioning, which means he often hears a lot of reminders:

“Did you finish your homework?”

“Don't forget your chores.”

“Please follow through.”

As you can imagine, that constant feedback can chip away at confidence and self-trust.

Things shifted the morning his coach told him to hop in and launch his decked-out bass boat — in a crowded dock area.

George hesitated: “I've never done this… I'll need coaching.”

The coach looked him in the eyes and said:

“I trust you, George.”

From the parking lot, I nervously watched George in the captain's seat maneuver the boat with calm focus — around other moving boats — until his coach arrived. It was less than ten minutes but felt like an eternity.

Without much experience, George did what he'd been entrusted to do.

He rose to meet the belief placed in him.

And that same day, George caught the largest bass of the day and he and his partner went on to win the state fishing tournament!!!

Coincidence? I don't think so.

Those three words — “I trust you” — built belief. They transformed doubt into capability.

As I reflected on this story, I realized: trust has always been one of my core values.

When it's present, I thrive.

When it's missing, I wither.

Everything flowed in my corporate career — until new “command and control” leadership entered.

Trust left.

So did my energy, creativity, and passion.

That experience — and my son's — reminded me:

🌟 Trust is the foundation of engagement, confidence, and impact.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say isn't “Here's how.”

It's simply: “I trust you.”

 So I ask you leaders, parents and myself:

 ❓ Do your people know you trust them?

 ❓ What would change if they did?