Media attorney, professor, and BigSpeak’s EVP Ken Sterling has been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work alongside legendary leaders in every industry, from professional sports to tech, big business, and culture.  In a recent article for Inc, he shares something he’s noticed across the board: many of these experts place a very high value on consistency, placing it above other commonly touted leadership virtues such as charisma, empathy, and flexibility.

In a recent conversation with the iconic Alex Rodriguez, the All-Star player defined consistency as the quickest way for a leader to build trust. The predictability created by consistent behavior builds safety, allowing all parties to know where they stand and what the rules are.

Bestselling author and habits speaker James Clear writes that “trust follows consistency” and “the pattern is the proof.” Conversely, inconsistency destroys trust, breeding insecurity and anxiety. Although consistency is not a value that can only be displayed over time and not utilized immediately, the payoff in the long term is invaluable.