The best leadership advice I ever received came at
age 17, from an Italian grocer
Quit Wasting Money and Time: Three Keys to Keep Your Employees, Customers, or Donors
My Story
In high school, I stocked shelves at a small grocery store owned by Mr. Grego. His business was just starting to spread and eventually covered the entire city. One day, he said something to me I’ll never forget:
“The key to success isn’t building a business. It’s building friendships.”
Mr. Grego taught me that no matter what you produce, sell, or serve—you’re in the people business. Treat people like friends, not transactions, and they’ll stick with you. Turnover of your staff, customers or financial partners costs money and time. Here’s how to avoid it.
Three Essentials to Build Trust and Loyalty
Want your team, partners, and customers to stay? Focus on:
- Honesty
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. People trust leaders who are consistent and true. - Inspiration
Inspire through your actions and vision. People want to follow leaders who bring energy and hope. - Competence
Show that you know what you’re doing. Deliver results. It builds confidence and loyalty.
Leadership is relational. Credibility is the cornerstone. Kouzes and Posner said it best: “Leadership is above all a relationship.”
More on Relationships that Build Trust and Good Business
Why Relationships Win in Business
Mr. Grego’s wisdom shaped how I view leadership and success today. He knew that building friendships wasn’t just “good customer service”—it was the key to a growing, loyal community.
In today’s world, customers and teams choose where they invest their loyalty. And they choose based on trust.
What Leaders Must Know: Credibility Matters
In their research, Kouzes and Posner found that people expect leaders to embody these traits:
- Honesty
- Forward-Looking
- Inspiring
- Competence
Three of those traits—honesty, inspiring, and competence—create what they call “source credibility.” That’s what makes people trust you.
Trust is earned over time by what you say and do, not by title or position. So, remember…
- Be Honest: Share the truth, even when it’s hard. People respect authenticity.
- Be Inspiring: Lead with a vision that pulls people forward. Give them hope.
- Be Competent: Master your craft and consistently deliver.
When you’re credible as a leader, your team and customers won’t just stick around—they’ll thrive.
A Final Thought
Success in business is about relationships. Build trust. Inspire people. Deliver results.
And remember this: Every time you serve your team well, you empower them to impact others.
Your Leadership Can Create Growth and Change Lives
Let’s investigate working together to build trust, inspire your team, and help you serve others—growing your organization to make an even bigger impact.
Contact me today: 7872leaders.com/contact
Doug