Girls Leadership Principle #2: Trust Is The Foundation of Leadership

Girls Who Fight
6 days ago
3 min read

The Girls Who Fight Self Defense And Leadership Program

By Gemma Sheehan

Leadership principles from 'The 21 Irrefutable Laws if Leadership" adapted for girls and teens.

"Trust is the foundation of leadership" - John Maxwell

Have you ever had a friend lie to you or talk behind your back? It changes everything. You don’t enjoy being around them anymore and it becomes hard to trust anything they say. That’s because trust is the foundation of every relationship—and it’s the foundation of leadership too.

If people trust you, they will follow you, support you, and believe in you. If they don’t trust you, they won’t. It doesn’t matter how talented, confident, or smart you are. At Girls Who Fight, we talk about this all the time—skills matter, but your character matters more.

"Leadership rises when leaders demonstrate competence and good values. When leaders lack competence, they can't accomplish anything. When they lack good values, they can't be trusted. Character and competence go hand in hand. They are what makes trust possible." - John Maxwell

Earning Trust in Girl World

In friendships, trust is built when you keep your word, tell the truth, and stand by your friends. It’s broken when you gossip, lie, or act differently depending on who you’re around. In class, I see it all the time. The girls who are consistent, honest, and respectful are the ones others want to partner with. The ones who aren’t lose trust quickly.

People don’t expect you to be perfect. But they do expect you to be consistent and honest. They need to know they can count on you!

Character & Good Values Develop Trust By:

Character communicates consistency

If your attitude, effort, and behavior change every day, people won’t know what to expect from you. One day you’re focused and kind, the next day you’re distracted or negative. Strong character means that you're consistent– you show up even when you don’t feel like it.

"You can't get much done if in life you only work the on days when you feel good" - Jerry West.

Character communicates potential

Your character sets your ceiling. Someone who is honest, disciplined and hardworking will always have a better impact on others than a person who is deceitful, impulsive and lazy. People want to know that you're worth investing in. When you have good character, people believe in your ability to reach your potential.

"No man can climb beyond the limits of his character" - John Morley

Character communicates respect

People don’t respect you because of what you say—they respect you because of what you do. Respect is earned when you take responsibility, tell the truth, and make the right choice even when it’s hard. It’s also earned when you admit when you’re wrong instead of making excuses. Anyone can do the right thing when it’s easy. That's why respect is built in the hard moments—when you’re frustrated, when you mess up, or when no one is watching. That’s when your character shows.

Becoming A Leader

Being good at something is not enough. You also have to be someone people can trust. If people trust you, they will follow you. If they don’t, they won’t. Trust comes from your character—what you do, how you act, and whether people can count on you. If you want to be a leader, start by becoming someone others can trust.

⚡️ Action

This week, focus on being consistent. Show up on time, give your full effort, and follow through on what you say you’ll do. That’s where trust is built.

⚡️ Reflection

How can we earn trust in martial arts class? How can we earn trust with friends?

Raise a Confident, Capable Girl Who Knows How to Protect Herself

The Girls Who Fight Program® helps girls age 6–14 develop Character, Confidence and Strength while mastering self defense skills that last a lifetime.