One of the very first lessons Remington and I learned together had nothing to do with “sit,” “stay,” or “heel.”
It had everything to do with trust.
Imagine being a puppy experiencing the world for the very first time. Every walk introduces something new—a passing bicycle, another dog, unfamiliar people, unexpected noises, and places you’ve never been before. From Remi’s perspective, every step held uncertainty. Before she could learn to walk confidently beside me, she first had to learn that I was someone she could trust.
She needed to know that I would protect her. If I asked her to walk past another dog instead of reacting, there was a reason. If I guided her in a different direction, it was because I could see something she couldn’t. She didn’t understand every situation, but she gradually learned that the hand holding the leash was steady, consistent, and always looking out for her best interests.
As our training continued, something remarkable happened. Remi stopped worrying about every distraction around her. She wasn’t ignoring the world; she simply no longer believed she had to manage it all herself. Because she trusted me, she was free to focus on learning instead of fearing. Trust gave her the confidence to move forward, even when she encountered something unfamiliar.
That lesson has stayed with me because leadership works exactly the same way.
Many leaders believe their greatest challenge is communicating more clearly or giving better direction. While those skills certainly matter, leadership doesn’t begin with direction. It begins with trust. People are far more willing to follow when they believe their leader is acting with integrity, making thoughtful decisions, and genuinely have their best interests at heart.
Trust creates confidence. Confidence creates movement. The same principle applies when we are leading ourselves.
Many of the accomplished professionals I work with have reached a point where something no longer fits. They’ve built successful careers, businesses, and lives, yet they find themselves asking, “Is this really the next chapter I want?” They know change is coming, but uncertainty causes them to question their instincts. They replay old decisions, worry about making the wrong choice, and slowly lose confidence in the very judgment that helped them become successful in the first place.
During a life transition, it’s easy to believe that clarity comes first and confidence follows. I’ve discovered the opposite is often true. Confidence begins when we learn to trust ourselves again.
Just as Remington learned she could confidently follow because she trusted the person holding the leash, we must learn to trust the wisdom we’ve gained through our own experiences. Our successes, failures, disappointments, and victories have shaped us into the leaders we are today. We don’t need perfect certainty before taking the next step. We need confidence that we can navigate whatever lies ahead.
Every meaningful transition begins with trust before direction. Before you decide what comes next, you must first believe that you can make the decision.
Remi’s Takeaway: Trust always comes before direction.
Whether you’re leading a team, leading your family, or leading yourself into your next chapter, confidence grows when trust leads the way. When you stop second-guessing every step and begin trusting the wisdom you’ve gained through your life experiences, you’ll discover that the path forward becomes much clearer.
A Question to Consider
As you think about your own journey, ask yourself:
Where in your life are you looking for more direction when what you really need is greater trust?
Is there a decision you’ve been postponing because you’re waiting for certainty? Or is this season inviting you to trust the wisdom you’ve already earned through your experiences?
Sometimes the next step isn’t finding more answers. It’s believing you already have what you need to begin.
Where Are You on Your Journey?
If this story resonated with you, perhaps you’re standing at a place where the next step isn’t finding more direction, it’s learning to trust yourself again. The first step isn’t making a major life decision. The first step is understanding where you are.
That’s why I created the Life Transition Profile™. This complimentary assessment will help you identify which stage of transition you’re experiencing and provide insight into what your next chapter may be asking of you.
Remember, awareness always comes before action and trust always comes before direction.