by Joe Judge and Dr. Mike Merrill, co-authors — “Leadership is Overcoming the Natural: 52 Maxims to Move Beyond Instinct”
After giving an employee some difficult feedback about his controlling conduct toward colleagues at work, he merely shrugged it off. However, it got his attention when I asked him how his wife reacted to this behavior at home. That question put the inappropriate actions he was unwilling to recognize in one context in a whole new light.
The key takeaway from this scenario is that a leader’s unproductive behavior manifests itself in every area of life. You cannot compartmentalize your approach to leadership. The actions you demonstrate in your role at work will mirror your interactions at home and in the community because it’s who you are. The good news is that as you examine your actions in one area, you can start to watch for that pattern of conduct in other contexts and make adjustments.
Effective leadership means preparing for scrutiny
As a leader, you will be under the microscope. Because of this constant scrutiny, you must maintain a steadfast leadership approach in every area of your life and your core values and beliefs.
Be transparent about your values and expectations from day one, then carry those values throughout every aspect of your leadership and life. Over time, this transparency demonstrates that your team can trust your words and actions, and if people see you mean what you say, they will take you seriously and follow you even when it’s complicated.
Leadership best practices involve crafting a consistent narrative
As a leader, your approach to your work becomes your narrative. If you hope to influence people and inspire them to action, your narrative must be compelling, clear, and — above all — consistent.
People need to see consistency in how you react and communicate so they can know what is expected. If you show up as a different person in different situations, they will question whether they can trust you.
To lead others, you must establish a steadfast leadership approach. Ultimately, consistency is the trait that prompts your team to trust and believe in you as a person and leader.
External stressors derail consistency in your leadership mindset
Consistency is not a natural state of being. As a leader, you will encounter daily obstacles such as unreasonable expectations, financial pressures, demands for results, team conflict, outside competition, and changing tactics by the people above and below you. More than anything else, these external stressors will challenge your ability to remain consistent.
Maintaining consistency under stress is critical. If you’re constantly changing gears for different situations and people, no one will know how to work with or around you when things get tough. If you want the people under you to see you as trustworthy, show them what they can expect from you at all times.
Transparent communication is the cornerstone of consistency in effective leadership
Transparent communication is critical in building trust. When you are transparent with your team, they will know where they stand with you and what to expect, which creates a safe environment where people can ask questions or share ideas without worrying about being judged or criticized.
To model transparent communication as a leader, be honest about what’s working and what is not by sharing your plans, goals, and challenges when things are going well and when they are not. If you speak transparently during the good times and the bad, you show your team that you’re willing to be vulnerable and admit mistakes, which is a key sign of strong leadership.
Transparent communication is a two-way street, however, so remain open to feedback from your team members regarding your leadership style or decisions. When they begin to recognize consistency in your approach, they will understand why you made the decision you made, be able to trust your direction, and move forward with confidence.
Transformational leadership starts with consistency as the foundation for trust
Consistency builds trust and fosters a culture of stability and confidence. As an effective leader, you can’t expect to build trust unless you consistently show up as your authentic self in every area of your life.
You must showcase yourself as the same person at work, at home, and in your broader community. After all, if the people under you do not know who you are, they will never feel secure enough to follow you, and will simply see you as a talking head without substance.
In essence, your approach becomes the leadership narrative influencing your followers who will scrutinize your interactions and behavior at work and in every area of life. Above all else, win their trust by being authentic, transparent, and consistent.
About Dr. Michael Merrill, MD, MS, MS, MBA
Dr. Michael Merrill is a distinguished physician executive, author, and educator with a multifaceted career. He offers a unique perspective on healthcare leadership, making him an invaluable resource for navigating the complex healthcare landscape.
About Joe Judge
Joe Judge has spent his entire adult life working with people. Joe’s specialty is in helping individuals, teams and organizations successfully align behaviors in order to achieve their stated objectives. With this comes a simple process for identifying the key issue, reviewing opportunities, creating a plan, holding accountability while building and developing teams that excel.
