#46 You are More Transparent Than You Realize

Trust and transparency are the underpinnings of strong leadership and organization cultures. The most effective leaders develop these five healthy habits for themselves and their teams.

1.      Share information promptly even when you don’t have all the answers.

Transparency requires leaders to be vulnerable enough to freely share critical information when they have it knowing it may not be complete and is likely to change. You may not have all the answers, but sharing what you know in the moment is highly valued and appreciated.

2.      Openly discuss mistakes and use them as a learning opportunity.

Trust is enhanced when leaders disclose mistakes as a mechanism for continuous improvement. When the stigma around failure is reframed as an investment in learning, people are more likely to take risks required for innovation.

3.      Invite diverse perspectives into decision-making and problem-solving.

The know-it-all leader is obsolete. The best solutions are born from divergent ideas from a variety of sources. Engaging people as part of the process creates the basis for believing they were heard and valued when their ideas are different.

4.      Create safe spaces to foster frequent, meaningful feedback.

Listening is an underrated and often overlooked leadership skill making a comeback during #COVID. Leaders have greater insight into the challenges people are facing every day. When people feel safe about providing feedback without a defensive response or being discounted, challenging issues get identified and discussed.

5.      Focus on results over methods.

Flexibility is king during this time of crisis. Leaders who exchange control for accountability will benefit from getting the desired results without stifling their people.

Number five is exceptionally accurate for the C-Suite. 

This Gallup report emphasizes what CEOs can do to prepare for the next crisis.  The report primarily talks about the need to have a cohesive partnership among the executive team and how the lack thereof negatively affects business outcomes. The article discusses five tactics executive teams are using during the pandemic – each of them founded in trust and transparency.

“It might feel like trying to change bald tires while the car is skidding on ice. But a crisis is exactly when CEOs and boards most need what a cohesive executive team offers -- strong partnerships, shared vision, and mutual accountability.”

Edelman’s Trust Barometer is one of the most respected surveys available for gauging the global Trust factor in all types of organizations, from the government to businesses. 

In its 20th year, the 2020 Trust Barometer Spring Update survey refers to a Trust Bubble concept. Is Trust elevated in response to the crisis? Will it be sustainable after the crisis?

Enter Dirty Dozen lesson #7 You are More Transparent Than you Realize

Here’s the headline I offer to my clients and have used for years in my leadership development programs as well as executive coaching. 

“You are far more transparent than you realize.”

What does that mean?

It means that people are watching ??, listening ??, and noticing what you say and what you do – all the time. There is no off button in leadership. 

In my case, it meant that people were reading my articles even when I didn’t realize they were. Many of my articles and posts about my articles receive little or no comments. People often posted responses in the form of an emoticon --- likes, loves, insightful, etc.

My best indicator of impact was from those articles that were shared, with or without comment. 

Privately, people would message me commenting on the powerful insight they got from reading an article or how I hit the nail on the head with a piece of advice or recommendation. 

I received responses from people I didn’t know, second and third-level connections, because a reader who follows me liked, commented, or shared my article. 

Lurkers are what I lovingly call these folks. 

Each response from a lurker reminded me of the trust and transparency factor. The response's from my readers touched me.  I reflected on the words I chose, the visuals I selected, and the metaphors I hoped would resonate. 

Each response reminded me there are thousands of others – also reading – who never let me know they are reading. I was reminded of the power of the pen and mindful of how to use it in constructive ways to build trust and transparency with my readers.

Who are your “readers”?