In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” In other words, be authentic and make the best of who you are.
Great leaders embrace who they are and strive to be the best they can be. Likewise, great leaders embrace who others are and help them to become the best they can be.
A great leader’s formula for success is simple:
- Be authentic,
- Choose authentic people who are good at their craft and passionate about the vision,
- Foster an environment of mutual trust that allows people to function at their best with appropriate boundaries and accountability.
In the process, remember that trust is 25% rational and 75% emotional.
Rational trust is established when a person is competent and reliable. In other words, when they are capable of doing what they say and when they follow through and actually do what they say they would.
More importantly, however, and often overlooked, is emotional trust, which is established when a person is authentic and cares. In other words, when they embrace who they truly are and when they put others’ interests before their own.
Herb Mast is Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.