This report is important to me because I believe trust is the bedrock of successful relationships with each other and the institutions we interact with. Without trust, the future is bleak.
I want to share one powerful graphic distilled from the US segment of the report and it’s in regard to the believability of leaders.
Now most of us don’t work with government leaders or journalists and reporters, but we do work with business leaders. What’s alarming is the steady rise in the worry that business leaders purposely mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations.
One thing people absolutely want from their leaders is transparency and honesty. In The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner they found that one attribute people wanted from a leader was honesty. And this was the same around the world with people of all ages.
Being an honest leader would do so much to strengthen trust in leadership. And yet you have to wonder if leaders are paying attention. Take a look at this chart from Gallup. You can find this 2023 article here.
In The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey, talk straight is shared as one of the building blocks of trust. Leaders can start here to turn the tide on these alarming statistics.
Now it’s unlikely that the leaders you are working with as a coach are purposely misleading people. So then why is this statistic important? Because leaders make a few mistakes when it comes to communications that can lead others to feel uneasy.
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Incomplete communication
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Using spin when communicating on potentially touchy subjects
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Intent not clearly stated
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Sharing difficult news asynchronously or virtually with little time for discussion
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Avoiding tough questions
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Saying one thing and seemingly doing another
Leaders must be careful in this period to be highly trustworthy. They should study trust and understand what builds it up, what nurtures it and what to do if it’s eroded.
Thomas J. Watson said, “The toughest thing about the power of trust is that it’s very difficult to build and very easy to destroy.”
Chances are the leaders you are working with aren’t thinking about building trust. They may take it for granted or are satisfied with the status quo. Whatever their stance, you may want to bring the topic of trust up with them to see if they’d like to learn more about the current state.
If so, share the Edelman report and the Gallup article with them. If they want to go even further, suggest that they read or listen to The Speed of Trust.
One last thing to think about. As a coach, trust is integral to our success. Do a review of your business practices and look for ways to build even stronger trust with your clients, partners and prospects.
Here are other articles and videos related to leadership:
Articles:
- 5 Models of Leadership Coaching
- 10 Trends that are Re-Defining Leadership Coaching Now
- The Democratization of Leadership Coaching
- 10 Great Books About Executive and Leadership Coaching
- The Role of Executive Coaching in Leadership Development
YouTube Videos:
