Transparency

As I thought of the first topic to discuss, I felt compelled to start with an area which many people, companies, and governments claim to be, yet demonstrate conflicting behavior. Similar to “Leadership”, this has a very broad spectrum of meanings but the premise, execution, and the honesty cross all boundaries, regardless of industry.

I have been lucky, in hindsight, to experience the ramification of inadequate communication as well as benefited from those leaders who have become quite skilled at providing a clear vision and being honest about mistakes and challenges ahead. As with all experiences, they help shape your views and allow you to align yourself with what you consider is the best course of action.

Using the word transparency and living by the word are completely different lifestyles with extreme results. I understand that there are strong arguments around levels of transparency and to whom this should be applied. From my experiences, complete transparency has paid far more dividends than selective communication and celebrations of achievements alone. Over the last two years, employees are far more informed about the state of the economy, their particular industry, and their company. Some of this “intelligence gathering” is anxiety for their job and has been rapidly facilitated by the access of information and media coverage.

I have seen leaders circumvent this approach for fear that the people won’t “like them” and that morale will be affected. I assure you that respect of the people has far more credence than just being liked, although we all want to have that comfort. People respect those leaders more for being honest, forthcoming, encouraging through tough times, and know that the leader’s confidence, to share the bad news, will carry them through.

From my perspective, transparency is very much a reflection on your “Corporate Brand” and integrity. Besides the respect of the people, you gain alliances with your peers, and earn the trust of senior executives. As a leader, we are always watched; I call it the “Man in the Mirror” effect and those looking for the next candidate or partner for an executive position respect the honesty, especially the bad news, and respect leaders who gain their followers through positive examples.

Thanks for reading.
JH

Welcome to Executive Leadership

Welcome to my blog on Executive Leadership. My mission through this medium is to engage in stories and commentary that anyone in a leadership role can relate to and deduce how it applies to them. I will share my thoughts and opinions as well as the various ways that I strive to demonstrate the highest level of leadership.

Leadership has various interpretations based on an individuals background, experiences, and teachings. Instead of defining leadership, we will focus on the core differences between the various levels of leadership and how to develop your own style. Look for future posts where we will take a closer look at the different forms of "Executive Leadership."


Thanks for reading.
JH