Be Honest, They Won't Expect It

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” 
― Robert Louis Stevenson

Almost no one expects leadership to be honest. Most of the time what people do expect is for leadership to simply manipulate the information. Sad, but true, this is the world we live in. This is standard, the status quo, the commonplace.

You want to be a world class leader? Be honest with your people, and everyone you're involved with.  Why? Because, people will know where you stand, and you will never have to cover your tracks.

What does it look like to lead honestly?

• It takes courage. You have to be brave enough to speak the truth and withstand the arrows that you will inevitably have aimed at you. Weak, spineless leaders are the ones that twist and manipulate.
• You need to be very clear of the direction that you are heading. Your people deserve to know the real objective. They can take it. Honor them by including them.
• Being honest is not license to be a jerk. You still need to think about how you say and present certain things. Learn to be a better communicator, because as the leader, this is your primary job.
• Make this honest communication a habit. You need to be constantly instilling the big picture what and why to your people. Yes, people can remember things. But when you are the one they constantly hear the message from and urging and encouraging them on, it gives the entire process a fire and life of its own.

People are tired of being lied to and manipulated. We need better leaders and a better vision. We need you to step up, and stop following everyone else's Standard Operating Procedure.

We need a great and honest leader.