A Conversation with Tara Truitt on Performance, Fit, and Trust

Leadership That Leaves Room for People to Grow

Leadership today is often measured by speed, results, and visibility. But what happens when we slow the conversation down and look at leadership through the lens of people, fit, and long-term growth?

In this episode of Unleash Your Amazing Leadership, I sat down with Tara Truitt, Regional Vice President of the East at Achosa Home Warranty, for an honest conversation about what it really means to lead high-performing teams without losing compassion, trust, or humanity.

What unfolds is a grounded discussion about decision-making, sales leadership, remote teams, and why leadership done well often looks a lot like teaching.

High Performance Doesn’t Have to Come at the Expense of Compassion

Tara describes herself as highly competitive and energized by being around people who want to win. But competition, in her view, isn’t about pressure or comparison—it’s about growth.

She shares how meaningful it is to watch people flourish, especially when they achieve goals that matter deeply to them, even if those goals don’t perfectly align with company KPIs. Celebrating those individual wins creates engagement, confidence, and long-term commitment.

Leadership in sales, Tara explains, is especially rewarding because it allows leaders to witness transformation in real time—when someone realizes they’re capable of more than they believed.

That growth doesn’t look the same for everyone. High performers may need autonomy and challenge, while newer hires often need a more hands-on, nurturing approach. Both matter. Both are valuable. And both deserve intentional leadership.

Why Leadership Is About Fit, Not Just Filling Roles

One of the central themes of the conversation is fit—between people, roles, and organizations.

Tara is clear: leadership isn’t about forcing someone to perform in a role that doesn’t align with who they are. It’s about understanding what people genuinely enjoy doing at the core of their work.

In sales especially, she explains, the job requires enjoying human interaction—talking with people, educating, meeting new faces, and navigating difficult conversations. The work isn’t always easy, and the days aren’t always perfect. But if someone doesn’t enjoy those fundamentals, the role will eventually feel like a struggle.

And that’s okay.

Not every role is meant for every person. Great leadership creates space for honesty about that reality, rather than treating misalignment as failure.

Thoughtful Decision-Making in a World That Demands Speed

Another powerful insight from the episode centers on decision-making.

Tara and I discussed how many leaders expect instant answers, mistaking urgency for effectiveness. Tara shares that some of her most important leadership lessons came from learning when not to rush.

If a situation doesn’t require immediate action, there is strength in saying, “Let me think on that.”

Pausing allows leaders to weigh options, consider impact, and make decisions they can stand behind—especially when none of the options feel ideal. Leadership, Tara notes, is often about making the best decision possible with the information available at the time, and being at peace with that choice.

Building Trust and Culture in Remote Teams

With remote work now a permanent reality for many organizations, the conversation naturally turns to trust.

Tara has worked remotely for years and understands why some leaders feel uneasy when they can’t physically see their teams. But she challenges the assumption that proximity equals productivity.

Being in the office doesn’t guarantee engagement, just as working remotely doesn’t indicate a lack of effort. In sales especially, activity and results reveal the truth over time.

For Tara, leading remote teams starts with genuine curiosity. She makes an effort to learn about people as humans, what they enjoy, what matters to them, and what their goals are. Family, pets, hobbies, and interests all matter because people matter.

Trust, she emphasizes, is built intentionally and over time. You don’t get to know someone in one conversation or one meeting. But connection is absolutely possible when leaders are willing to invest attention and care.

Standing over someone doesn’t make them better. Trust does.

Leadership That’s Real, Human, and Sustainable

This conversation is a reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be rigid, rushed, or transactional.

It can be competitive and compassionate.
It can be results-driven and people-centered.
It can honor both individual goals and organizational success.

Most importantly, it can leave room for people to grow.

Check out the full interview here or wherever you listen to podcasts.