As a leader it is essential that we have followers. We are not going to have our employees follow us if we are not a person they can trust. Have you ever stopped to think what people value most in their managers?
Most people want someone who is honest, truthful and straightforward. They want someone who has their interests at heart, someone they can trust. Integrity is something which can’t be faked, at least not for long. If you are trustworthy, it will show in your words and actions. It is a natural part of your being. If you fake honesty people will eventually realize they cannot trust you. As a leader you have to be trusted. You’ll build loyalty in people and enjoy their goodwill. Your people will want to do a good job for you because of the trust they have in you.
Most managers believe themselves to be honest and straightforward. If anyone accused them of presenting things differently than they really are, they’d be upset. Unfortunately, though, the fact is that some do stretch the truth, at least part of the time.
Some managers, for example, pride themselves on knowing what should or shouldn’t be told to their people. For one reason or another, they tell employees only what they want them to know…which may or may not be the complete truth of the matter. Wise managers stick to the facts. When they want to make a change or otherwise do something for the good of the company, they admit frankly, they don’t try to pass it off as a new employee benefit.
Other managers slant things to protect their personal image or to keep up appearances. Some simply fool themselves; they get carried away by their own words. Because they paint a glowing word picture, they think that makes it so. Employees are smarter than that. They will know when something is being pushed on them.
Good managers don’t present everything only in the best possible light. If there’s a bad side to something, they point that out too, rather than risk thinking they’re trying to put something over on them. If that happens then your employees start to not trust you. When you lose trust from your people it takes that much longer to get it back. Being honest and straightforward may not always be the popular way to do things, but it is they right way. Employees may not always like hearing the bad side of something, and may not stay with the company. As a manager you have to ask yourself, is that a trustworthy person? They may be one of your best employees, but, if they are not trustworthy, then you do not need them in your organization.
In short, a smart manager doesn’t try to fool anyone any of the time. He or she knows that nothing undermines people’s confidence faster than twisting the truth. After all, how much trust can be put in a manager who bends or hides facts, or tries to “snow people”?
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