\"Leadership Consistency: The Boring Secret to Long-Term Success\" - Craig Groeschel - Global Leadership Summit 2025

What if everything we think we know about great leadership is wrong?

That's the question that struck me as I reviewed the notes from Craig Groeschel's kick-off to this year's Global Leadership Summit.

In a world obsessed with charismatic CEOs and viral leadership moments, Craig delivered a message that felt both refreshing and challenging:

The leaders who leave the deepest mark aren't necessarily the flashiest ones.

The Leadership Lie We've Been Sold

We live in an Instagram world that celebrates the highlight reel. The dynamic speaker. The visionary with the perfect soundbite. The leader who can command a room and inspire thousands with a single talk.

Don't get me wrong—those qualities aren't bad. But Craig reminded us of something we've forgotten: they're not what builds lasting influence.

Here's what our culture says makes a great leader:

• Charisma that lights up the room

• Fame that opens doors

• Immediate results that impress boards

Here's what actually creates lasting impact:

• Consistency in the small moments

• Faithfulness when nobody's watching

• Long-term thinking that builds trust brick by brick

Why "Boring" Might Be Your Superpower

Craig said something that stopped me in my tracks: "Boring is the pathway to greatness."

My first reaction? Ouch. That doesn't sound very inspiring, does it?

But then I thought about the leaders who've shaped me most.

The coach who showed up to every practice, not just the big games. The mentor who sent consistent check-in texts, not just congratulatory messages after my wins. The boss who held the same standards on Tuesday as they did on Friday.

None of those moments were Instagram-worthy. But they built something deeper than flash ever could: trust.

I discuss this issue of building trust in my book, The Trust Gap.

The formula Craig shared is elegantly simple:

Consistency + Faithfulness × Time = Lasting Impact

It's not a get-rich-quick scheme for leadership. It's a compound-interest approach that pays dividends for decades.

The Gap That Kills Good Intentions

How many times have you walked away from a leadership book, conference, or conversation with great intentions, only to watch them fade into your busy life?

We've all been there. The vision is clear, the motivation is high, and then... life happens.

Craig identified the culprit: the gap between intention and action. And he offered the bridge: consistency.

Consistency isn't glamorous, but it's what transforms "we should do this" into "we actually did this." It's what takes your leadership from wishful thinking to real influence.

Playing the Long Game in a Short-Term World

In our world of quarterly earnings and viral moments, faithfulness feels painfully slow. While others are chasing the quick win, faithful leaders are playing a different game entirely.

They're building something that can't be measured in likes, shares, or immediate ROI: deep, lasting trust.

As Craig put it: "Right habits bring about right outcomes." When you consistently focus on the right inputs—showing up, keeping your word, investing in people—the right outcomes will follow. Maybe not today, maybe not this quarter, but eventually.

Your Leadership Reality Check

Before you close this and move on to the next urgent email, take a moment for some honest reflection:

Where have you been banking on charisma instead of building through consistency?

Maybe it's in your team meetings—hoping your enthusiasm will carry the day instead of doing the hard work of consistent follow-through. Or in your personal development, waiting for inspiration to strike instead of showing up to the daily disciplines that actually create growth.

What "boring" habits is your leadership missing right now?

Perhaps it's the weekly one-on-ones you keep postponing. The feedback you know you should give but haven't. The systems you need to build, but keep putting off for more exciting priorities.

Are you optimizing for applause or for legacy?

There's nothing wrong with moments of recognition, but if that's what's driving your leadership, you're building on sand. The leaders who change the world aren't necessarily the ones who get the loudest applause—they're the ones who show up when the applause stops.

The Long View

Here's what I want you to remember as you step back into your leadership this week:

You don't need to be the most gifted person in your organization. You don't need to be the best speaker, the most creative thinker, or the most naturally inspiring presence in the room.

But if you can master the art of showing up—consistently, faithfully, over time—you'll build something that outlasts every viral moment and trendy leadership hack: real influence.

The world has plenty of flash. What it needs more of is faithfulness.

What would happen if you became known not for your charisma, but for your consistency? Not for your ability to impress, but for your commitment to show up?

That's the kind of leader the world is waiting for. That's the kind of leader you can become, starting today.

Because in the end, it's not the moments that make the noise—it's the faithfulness that makes the difference.