“People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision”

Simplified Meaning:

Before people get on board with a leader’s ideas or plans, they first need to trust and believe in the leader themselves. Think about a sports team: if the players respect and have confidence in their coach, they are more likely to give their best effort and follow the coach’s game plan. If the coach has a strong relationship with the team and shows they care about the players, the team will be motivated to achieve the coach’s vision of winning the championship. This shows how crucial it is for leaders to build trust and connection with their followers first. Once this trust is in place, it's much easier for the leader to get everyone enthusiastic about the bigger goals and plans. So, if someone is trying to lead a group or promote a new idea, their first step should be earning the respect and trust of the people they want to inspire.