6 Key Leadership Essentials - Part 2...The Importance of Being YOU!

Last week’s newsletter, The Importance of Effective Communication began our three-part series, 6 Key Leadership Essentials ALL Great Leaders Know  from the Brilliant Leader Program.   In it we stressed how critical a skill it is to listen to understand, and to speak in a manner that resonates with your followers. 

But one vital key essential that all great, brilliant leaders know is…if your followers don’t believe in you and they don’t trust you then it doesn’t matter how great an orator or a listener you are. 

Every day we see and hear leaders, (some of us have even worked for them) who don’t understand the importance their words and actions have on building trust.  British author, M.J. Arlidge said it best when he wrote,“Trust is a fragile thing-Hard to earn and easy to lose.”

So just how do you go about earning the trust and belief of those you work with and live with everyday? Here are two key leadership essentials all great, brilliant leaders know.

1.  Be, live, and breathe “the Role Model life” everyday

Ok, we’re not talking about being a saint and never making a mistake.  What we are saying is that to earn and keep the trust you must be very aware that how you live your life and what you say is very important to someone somewhere.  Pretend you’re onstage with the bright lights shining and cameras always rolling.  Every time you speak and every action you take is representative of what you believe in and who you really are.

In a recent blog written by my good friend, Jeremy Daniels, VP of Training and Founder of the Color Code Classroom, he wrote “What would your workplace (or even your family) be like if you just took a couple of minutes out of your day to lift another person?”  His message is a great reminder of the impact “living the role model life” can have on those who believe in us and those who want to follow us.  Maybe even be inspired to grow up to be just like us.

2.  Be Authentic And Be Real

As we entered into the world of technology (way back in the dark ages), the acronym “WYSISWYG”,(What you see is what you get) was all the rage and still has meaning today.  Why? Because this single phrase brings home the importance of what it means to be transparent and authentic.

Everyone wants to know that the person they rely on, believe in, and live/work shoulder-to-shoulder with is real.  That day after day, being honest and fair in their dealings with others is what matters.  Playing games, passing the buck, holding back, or just being a phony-baloney are actions that great, brilliant leaders don’t demonstrate and certainly will not tolerate.  Leaders who live true to their values earn trust every day.

So, my challenge to you this week is to: 1) Be aware of the impact your words and actions have on others, and 2) Ask yourself , Am I  the “WYSISWYG” I would want to follow?

Next week we’ll focus on last of the 6 Key Leadership Essentials ALL Great Leaders Know from the Brilliant Leader Program.  And we’ll be announcing the date for our upcoming webinar, 6 Key Leadership Essentials.  Stay tuned!

Drop me an email at info@thewestberrygroup.com and let me know about your Leadership AHA-moment.  I’d love to hear from you.

Until then,…be safe, be kind, and BE BRILLIANT!