“Being honest won’t get you many friends, but it will get you good ones. » ~John Lennon
One of the essential qualities of leadership is the possession of honesty
Honesty is acting with righteousness and loyalty and leading an existence consistent with the rules of social morality and probity. It is a quality of someone who acts, speaks in accordance with his thoughts, who is in good faith.
If I asked you the most important quality you look for in your life partner, your friends, and a boss, I’m sure honesty would be at the top of the list. Honesty and cooperation in a relationship provide a solid foundation on which wonderful achievements can be built.
On the other hand, a relationship filled with lies and manipulation is like walking around with a time bomb: you don’t know when everything will explode, but it will eventually.
Since our objectives as leaders are to lead our teams towards a common objective and to help our employees to surpass themselves and develop, it is preferable to be honest to ensure the sustainability of our actions.
We all know that gaining the trust of others takes a long time, but it only takes one action or word to lose that same trust.
So why is it so difficult to always tell the truth and behave beyond reproach?
I believe it is often for ego reasons, to avoid hurting people around us or for less well-intentioned people, to achieve a personal goal without considering the impact on others.
As I prefer to use my writing to project positivity and see the world through a lens of kindness, I will focus on the first two reasons.
The ego, again and again in the path of the leader who wishes to progress.
Being honest can sometimes challenge us because, as the leader of a group, we will have to admit our limitations or our wrongs. It’s not pleasant and we tend to run away from it by trying to blame circumstances or other people for our mistakes.
It is not easy to look in the mirror and realize that we are responsible for our actions and the consequences of them. Also, as a leader, the results of our team, whatever the reasons, fall under your responsibility. So you have to find a way to leave your ego at the door if you want to have the most impact as a leader.
No one is perfect and a boss who is able to admit his faults exposes his vulnerability to his team. If he is a good leader who takes care of his colleagues, they will return the favor and support him in finding a solution allowing the group to continue on its path.
Trust the people around you, because if your intentions are kind and your actions align with your team’s values, your group members will accept occasional mistakes, because everyone makes them. There are only people who do nothing who don’t make mistakes.
As for avoiding hurting the people around us, it’s a little more complicated, I think, because our reflex as leaders is to wish to protect the people who follow us from all dangers and all negative feelings. .
Managerial courage
On the surface it all seems very noble, but looking at the bigger picture it exposes more of a problem with managerial courage. You are not a leader to make friends, but to help your team, as a whole, progress and achieve organizational goals.
When an employee fails to meet expectations or follow directions, action must be taken. Failure to take action lowers your credibility for the entire team. An honest conversation with the employee will allow to understand the situation and often, to reframe expectations to help the employee get back on the right path. The quicker the discussion is done, the easier it will be and the less impact it will have on your team’s overall performance.
Let go
I remember the first time an employee started crying in my office following a reframing meeting. It’s difficult and I didn’t know how to react, but I gave her time to come to her senses; I then explained to her my intentions and my responsibilities as leader of the group. That’s all I could do, the rest was up to her… You have to learn to let go.
Although you are primarily responsible for your team and are accountable for the results obtained, it is important to remember that each member of the team has a job to do and responsibilities specific to their position.
You must provide people with the necessary tools and clearly explain your expectations and objectives. However, your employees, just like you, are responsible for their actions and the consequences that result from them. Employees respect and remain loyal when you are honest and upfront. This will result in high morale, strong motivation and better talent retention.
Honesty helps create a positive work environment where employees feel safe to express their ideas and concerns. This promotes collaboration, innovation and employee engagement. An honest leader inspires and motivates teams, which leads to better organizational performance and strong professional relationships.
Need help improving your leadership skills or building a culture of caring leadership? Do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to provide you with the tools you need for the future.
Always remember: how does your mood impact your performance and overall attitude? Imagine if all your employees or collaborators were happy…
Carl-Michael Tessier
Coach in high-performance team development and tailor-made support
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