Being Impressive at Work Is Overrated. Being Reliable at Work Isn’t.

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Early in my career, I thought the key to success was to impress people.

Say the smartest thing in the meeting. Take on the biggest task. Be the go-to, the problem solver, the person who always had the answer. I wanted to be visible, valuable, validated.

And it worked — sort of. People noticed me. I got praise. Promotions came. But eventually, I realized something uncomfortable:

Being impressive is a performance. Being reliable is a relationship.

One fades fast. The other builds over time.

The Problem With Being “Impressive”

When you focus on being impressive, you tend to:

• Speak more than you listen

• Prioritize optics over outcomes

• Chase visibility instead of impact

• Fear making mistakes

• Burn out trying to stay ahead

You become addicted to attention — and allergic to vulnerability. Everything feels like a stage. And once you’ve built your value around being impressive, it becomes terrifying to let people see anything less.

That means:

• You say yes when you should say no

• You hide confusion or doubt

• You micromanage because trust feels risky

• You sacrifice your own energy to maintain an image

It becomes a treadmill — fast, noisy, exhausting.

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And here’s the thing: People may remember the big moment you nailed a presentation. But what they rely on is how you show up every day. That’s what sticks.

Impressiveness is flashy. Reliability is foundational.

What Reliability At Work Actually Looks Like

Reliability is quiet. It’s steady. It’s unglamorous. But it’s magnetic.

People trust you. They depend on you. They include you in the real conversations. They don’t have to wonder how you’ll show up — they already know.

Here’s what it looks like:

• You do what you say you’ll do

• You follow up — even when no one’s watching

• You’re consistent, not just when it’s convenient

• You don’t disappear when it gets hard

• You create emotional safety in your team

Reliability doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence and follow-through. It’s not about being the best. It’s about being there.

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In Leadership, Reliability Wins

I’ve led teams across states, functions, and projects. You know what people want in a leader?

Not someone who dazzles them. Not someone with the most credentials. Not someone who dominates every meeting.

They want someone who:

• Answers their Slack message when they’re stuck

• Advocates for them behind closed doors

• Protects their time and workload

• Admits when they don’t know

• Communicates consistently

Consistency > charisma.

Leadership isn’t about being impressive to your team. It’s about being dependable for your team.

It’s about:

• Predictable expectations

• Trust built through repetition

• Space for others to rise

• Modeling accountability

Reliable leaders at work build high-functioning teams. Because people perform better when they’re not constantly decoding your mood, your standards, or your expectations.

In Fatherhood, It’s Even More Clear

My kids don’t care how “smart” I am. They don’t care about titles or accomplishments.

They care that I:

• Pick them up when I say I will

• Show up at the game

• Put the phone down when they talk

• Follow through on a promise

To them, reliability is love.

The world is already confusing enough for kids. What they need from a father — from any caregiver — is consistency. Familiarity. Someone who shows up the same way, every time.

They don’t need a hero. They need someone they can count on.

And when I fail at that? I own it. That matters too.

Because reliability isn’t about never messing up. It’s about being safe to count on.

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The Catch: Reliability Doesn’t Get Applause

No one throws a parade when you answer emails on time or stay consistent for a year.

But those habits? They’re what build trust. They’re what unlock promotions. They’re what make people say, “We need you on this.”

Because impressive people get attention. Reliable people get invited back.

They get more responsibility. They get more influence. They become the ones people look to when it really matters — when it’s urgent, when it’s high-stakes, when everything is on the line.

And here’s the kicker: people may forget your biggest win. But they will remember the person they could always depend on.

The Workplace Loves Flash — But Teams Love Steady

In corporate environments, it’s easy to reward flash:

• Big presentations

• Loud brainstorming sessions

• Over-the-top energy

But if you’ve ever worked on a real team that’s shipping something meaningful, you know that flash doesn’t finish the job.

Reliable people do.

They carry the ball when no one’s watching. They pull the late-night slack cleanup. They remember the detail that prevents a production bug. They document. They follow up. They lead by doing.

Teams love that. They thrive with that.

You don’t need to be the loudest. You need to be the most consistent.

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When Being Impressive Backfires

The dark side of being impressive is it often disconnects you from others.

• You become less approachable.

• Your teammates hesitate to bring you problems.

• You intimidate without meaning to.

• You isolate yourself chasing the next big “wow.”

And worse? You start confusing your performance with your worth.

That’s fragile.

Reliability is resilient.

What Reliability Feels Like to Others

Reliable people make others feel:

• Safe

• Heard

• Grounded

• Valued

You create a psychological anchor. You reduce uncertainty in chaotic environments. You free up others to focus because they know you’re going to do your part.

That’s real leadership. That’s real trust.

How to Shift From Impressive to Reliable

This doesn’t mean you stop excelling. It means you build your excellence on a foundation that lasts.

Here’s how:

1. Say less. Do more.Let results speak. Deliver before you declare.

2. Build routines.Consistency comes from structure. Even small systems compound.

3. Underpromise. Overdeliver.Set expectations you can exceed. That builds confidence.

4. Show up the same on good and bad days.Predictability is power.

5. Follow through — always.Even on the small stuff. Especially the small stuff.

6. Apologize when you fall short.Accountability is reliability in motion.

7. Protect your energy.You can’t be reliable if you’re running on fumes.

   
   

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The ROI of Being Reliable

It’s not glamorous. But it is transformative.

Reliable people:

• Get asked back

• Get trusted with more

• Get promoted faster

• Get put in rooms where decisions are made

Because trust is the real currency of leadership.

When people know what to expect from you — and you deliver — you become irreplaceable.

Final Thoughts

Being impressive might get you in the door.

But being reliable? That’s what makes people hold it open for you.

It’s not about fireworks — it’s about foundation. It’s about who people turn to when it actually matters.

So yeah, being impressive is cool.

But being reliable?

That’s leadership. That’s trust. That’s legacy.

And in the long game — that’s what really lasts.