Value Your Time—And Others’: The Leadership Habit That Builds Trust and Respect
- Kirk Carlson
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
In a world driven by endless distractions, notifications, and competing priorities, one of the most overlooked yet powerful habits of a strong leader is this: respecting time—both yours and others’. It sounds simple. But the impact is profound.
⏳ Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset
Time is the only resource you can never get back. Every minute spent is gone forever. That’s why successful people—from military commanders to CEOs—treat time with the same seriousness they’d treat money, security, or health.
When you value your time, you naturally become more:
Focused: You eliminate distractions and dial in on what matters.
Disciplined: You say no to things that waste energy and dilute purpose.
Credible: Others learn they can trust you to show up, finish tasks, and honor commitments.
But leadership isn’t just about your time. It’s also about how you treat other people’s time.
⏰ Respecting Others’ Time Is a Form of Respect
Here’s the truth: Being late, unprepared, or disorganized doesn’t just hurt productivity. It signals disrespect. It shows you believe your time is more important than theirs.
When you respect others’ time, you:
Build trust: People know they can count on you.
Increase morale: Your team feels seen, heard, and valued.
Create efficiency: Projects move faster when no one is left waiting, guessing, or chasing details.
🪖 What the Military Teaches About Time
In the military, being early is on time, and being on time is late. Why? Because preparedness saves lives. It’s not just about punctuality—it’s about mental readiness, respect, and shared mission success.
Veterans, first responders, and cadets learn this discipline early, and it often becomes one of their strongest assets when transitioning into leadership roles.
💼 In Civilian Life, It’s No Different
Whether you’re showing up for a meeting, leading a team, mentoring youth, or running a nonprofit—how you manage and respect time becomes your brand.
It tells people:
How you lead
How you follow through
How much you care
💡 Habits to Build a Time-Respecting Culture
Start and end meetings on time.
Use agendas. Don’t wing it—respect others by coming prepared.
Say “no” when needed. Don’t waste time on what doesn’t align.
Follow through. Do what you say, when you say you’ll do it.
Be present. Don’t scroll, multitask, or delay—be where your feet are.
When you value your time and others’, you send a powerful signal:
👉 “You matter. Our mission matters. Let’s make every moment count.”
That’s how leaders earn loyalty, inspire action, and get things done—with integrity, precision, and honor.
🖊 Sign the petition: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR
🌐 Learn more: www.covenantofcourage.com
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