The Honest Leader

As a leader, honesty is a key quality to possess. Honesty involves not only telling the truth, but also being transparent and open with your team. When leaders are honest, they earn the trust and respect of their team, and in turn, their team is more likely to follow and trust in their decisions.

One example of a leader who embodies honesty is former US President, Barack Obama. He was known for his transparency and willingness to admit when mistakes were made, which helped to build trust with his team and the public. It was interesting that only two weeks after taking office, Barack Obama publicly admitted to making a mistake. He stated "I screwed up" in regards to pushing ahead with Tom Daschle as the U.S. health care chief despite a controversy over unpaid taxes. This admission was a sign of the new style he brings to the White House. This helped to build trust in Obama's leadership, because he showed that just like the rest of us he is also capable of making mistakes, and humble enough to admit when he is wrong. 

Being honest with oneself as a leader is essential for personal growth and development. It means acknowledging one's own strengths and weaknesses, and being willing to take a critical look at one's own performance. This self-awareness is crucial for making informed decisions, and for understanding the impact that one's actions have on others.

Admitting mistakes and taking responsibility for them is a key aspect of being honest with oneself as a leader. It requires humility and a willingness to admit when one has made a mistake, and to take steps to correct it. This not only shows integrity and accountability, but it also sets a positive example for others to follow. When a leader takes responsibility for their mistakes, it sends a message to the team that it is safe to do the same, and that it is valued and encouraged.

Being honest with oneself and taking responsibility for one's actions also leads to gaining the respect and trust of the team. When a leader is transparent, it creates a culture of trust and open communication, which is crucial for building a high-performing team. When team members trust and respect their leader, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, and to contribute their best work. This, in turn, leads to better outcomes for the organisation as a whole.

Clear expectations should be set for your team. This means being clear about what is expected of them, and holding them accountable for their actions. When team members know what is expected of them, they are more likely to meet those expectations, and in turn, the organisation will be more successful.

Being honest about the challenges and obstacles that your team may face is also important. It is too easy to sugarcoat the situation and paint a rosy picture, but when you are honest about the challenges ahead, your team is more likely to trust in your leadership and work together to overcome those challenges.

Another aspect of honesty is being open and transparent with your team. This means being willing to share information, and not keeping secrets from your team. When your team knows what is going on, they are more likely to trust in your leadership and support your decisions.

Leadership and honesty also mean being willing to admit when you don't have all the answers. It is too easy to pretend like you know everything, but when you admit when you don't know something, you gain the respect and trust of your team.

Lastly, it is important for a leader to hold their team members accountable for their actions. This means setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback and holding team members accountable for their performance. By doing so, a leader establishes a culture of honesty and integrity within the organisation, and team members will be more likely to follow the example set by their leader.

In summary, in order to be an honest leader, one should:

1.    Admit their own mistakes and take responsibility for them

·       Acknowledge when you have made a mistake, rather than trying to hide it or shift the blame to someone else.

·       Take full responsibility for your actions and apologize if necessary.

·     Show your team that you are willing to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and that you are not above making mistakes.

·       Learn from your mistakes and use them as an opportunity to grow and improve as a leader.

·       By admitting and taking responsibility for your mistakes, you will gain the respect and trust of your team, as they will see that you are willing to hold yourself to the same standards you hold them to.

2.               Set clear expectations and hold team members accountable for their actions

·   Clearly communicate what is expected of each team member in terms of their responsibilities and performance.

·       Provide regular feedback to team members on their performance and how they are meeting expectations.

·       Hold team members accountable for their actions by addressing any shortcomings or issues that arise.

·       Follow through on any consequences that have been established for not meeting expectations.

·  By setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable, you create a culture of accountability and responsibility within your team, which helps to improve overall performance and achieve success.

3.              Be honest about challenges and obstacles faced by the team

·       Don't sugarcoat the situation or paint a rosy picture that is not realistic.

·     Be transparent and open about the challenges and obstacles that the team may face, and how you plan to address them.

·       Communicate the potential impact of these challenges on the team and the organization.

·       Encourage open and honest discussion about the challenges, and involve the team in finding solutions.

·       By being honest about challenges and obstacles, you gain the trust and respect of your team, and they are more likely to work together to overcome them.

4.               Share information openly and transparently.

·        Be willing to share information with your team, and don't keep secrets from them.

·       Share relevant information about the organization, its goals, and how the team fits into the bigger picture.

·       Communicate important decisions and changes to the team in a timely manner.

·       Encourage open communication and questions from the team.

·       By sharing information openly and transparently, you establish trust and respect with your team, and they are more likely to support your decisions.

5.               Admit when you don't have all the answers

·       Be willing to admit when you don't know something, rather than pretending to have all the answers.

·       Show that you are open to learning and seeking help from others.

·       Encourage questions and input from your team on issues that you may not have all the answers to.

·       Seek out advice and expertise from others to help you make informed decisions.

·       By admitting when you don't know something, you gain the respect and trust of your team, and they are more likely to follow your lead.

6.               Set a good example and lead by example

·       Lead by example by embodying honesty and integrity in all aspects of your life.

·       Be willing to admit when you have made a mistake, and take steps to correct it.

·       Hold yourself to the same standards that you hold your team to.

·       Show your team that you are willing to learn and grow as a leader.

·     By setting a good example, you establish a culture of honesty and integrity within the organization, and team members will be more likely to follow your example.

7.               Hold their team members accountable for their actions

·        Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback on team members' performance.

·       Hold team members accountable for their actions by addressing any shortcomings or issues that arise.

·       Follow through on any consequences that have been established for not meeting expectations.

·       Provide support and resources to help team members improve their performance.

·    Consistently apply the same standards and expectations to all team members to maintain fairness and consistency. By holding team members accountable, you establish a culture of responsibility and accountability within your team, which helps to improve overall performance and achieve success.

Do the right thing and being honest is not always as easy as we would like. However, it is in the hard work that we earn the trust and respect from people. And no one has every regretted do the right thing. 

Of course, there is more to success than just that. If you are serious about success, then maybe you should consider getting a mentor for yourself. If mentorship is something you are serios about, then click the this link MENTORSHIP and follow the instructions on the proceeding page. 

Terry Shadwell

Helping people help themselves so that they can lead a greater life.