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Picture this: It’s 4:50 on a Friday afternoon, and a client just emailed asking for an entire deck to be redone by Monday morning.
You’re already juggling three other priorities, and this project needs someone who can move quickly and make good decisions.
Within two seconds, you know who you’re assigning it to.
Not necessarily the most talented person on the team, or the most talkative.
It’s the person whose response you already know: “I’ll take care of it.”
Consistency might be the single most reassuring skill one person can offer a team, and yet it’s absent from almost every resume.
Consistency doesn’t just build trust. When people see it again and again, it builds your reputation.
Now flip the same scenario onto yourself.
On your busiest Friday, do you still show up the same way you do on an ordinary Monday?
If you’re wincing right now, you’re not alone!
That’s the focus of this week’s newsletter: why steadiness carries so much weight and how you can strengthen your own.
We’ll cover:
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Why Steadiness Reads as Trust
At its core, consistency is just doing what you said you'd do whether anyone's watching or not.
Consistency is the basis of the trust equation: we trust people who are steady and reliable much more than people who are smart or talented.
It may surprise you to learn that if someone is super smart, but always changes their mind or breaks their promises, we don’t credit them for their talent.
Instead, we stop trusting them almost immediately.
This Week's Tip: Three Moments That Test Consistency
Let’s go over three of the most likely moments where your consistency may be tested and may be hard to maintain.
1. When You're Overwhelmed
The fastest thing to change under pressure is how you respond. Avoid shorter answers, closed body language (crossed arms, less eye contact), or a sigh before you've said a word.
Instead of: "I don't have time for this right now."
Try: "Give me until this afternoon, and I'll have a real answer for you."
How to do this: Before you answer, take a breath. Ask yourself, What would I say if I were having a good day? Then say that.
2. When You Have Bad News to Deliver
People build trust when they know they won’t be caught off guard. If something could affect a project, consistently communicate what you know, even when you don't have the full answer yet.
Instead of: “I’ll wait until I have an answer.”
Try: “There could be a timeline issue. I don’t have the full solution yet, but I wanted to flag it now. I’ll have an update for you by Friday.”
How to do this: Make early communication your default. If something material changes, tell people what you know, what you don't know, and when they can expect to hear from you again.
3. When You're Tired
Consistency is easy when you have plenty of energy. The real test is what happens when you don't.
Instead of: letting your tiredness make you short, distracted, or impatient.
Try: "I'm running low on energy today, but I want to give this my attention."
How to do this: When you're tired, acknowledge it. Then look the person in the eye and give them your full attention.
This Week’s Funny
If you are interested in working together, email me at [email protected].
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