What’s the most valuable attribute for leaders?
According to the majority of employees and customers, it’s transparency.
Transparency is all about being honest, open, and accessible as a leader. And it’s crucial to building a successful company–95% of jobseekers say it’s important to work for a company that embraces transparency.
Here are practical ways five top CEOs showcase transparency and build trust on a daily basis.
Be Open To Questions
Transparent leaders don’t limit the questions they address. They are willing to have hard conversations and are honest about the strengths and weaknesses of their organizations.
Wolf-Henning Schneider, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen, believes so strongly in transparency that whenever he holds meetings, anyone in the room is allowed and welcomed to question a practice or policy in the company.
Wolf-Henning believes that future leaders must practice constant reflection and transparency. There’s no place for leaders to hide in their organizations, so they must be willing to answer questions about hard topics.
Be Yourself
It’s hard for leaders to be transparent if they aren’t comfortable being themselves. Transparency and authenticity go hand in hand. Transparent leaders show employees who they are, what they stand for, and what they believe.
Andree Simon, President and CEO of FINCA Impact Finance, learned early in her career that she didn’t have to act and think like every other leader. Andree became true to herself, especially in how she communicates with people. That authenticity allows Andree to be more confident, making it easier to be transparent because she fully believes in her actions.
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Communicate Regularly And Openly
Communication is the key to building trust and transparency. When leaders are open in their communication, employees can tell that they aren’t hiding anything. Their regular updates keep everyone in the loop and on the same page.
David Nelms, former CEO of Discover Financial, constantly communicated with his employees at all levels. He hosted regular Q&A town hall meetings and annual video meetings with all 17,000 global employees, wrote blog posts, and invited employees to participate in an open dialogue on various topics.
Listen And Ask Questions
Transparent leaders are open about what they don’t know. When leaders ask questions and listen, they are willing to consider other perspectives and make their viewpoints more authentic and approachable.
Steve Smith, CEO of Amsted Industries, has made it a habit throughout his career to listen more than he talks. He wants to hear from as many people as possible and makes sure he is always asking questions and trying to find the truth.
Get Out Of Your Office
Transparency isn’t built through emails; it comes from the CEO immersing themselves in what the company is really going through. Humility builds trust and makes leaders more accessible.
Isabelle Kocher, former CEO of ENGIE, leaves her office and directly contacts her teams, clients, and shareholders. She believes leaders have to get out of their ivory tower and lead from the bottom to be in touch with what employees and customers value.
Transparency is crucial for current and future leaders. Be open and authentic, ask questions and listen, communicate, and above all else–be yourself.
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The #1 challenge for organizations right now is how to attract and retain talent. Organizations are stuck in old ways of thinking about work and they are struggling! In my new PDF, I outline 7 ways the workforce is changing and what you and your organization need to do to adapt. The Great Resignation is The Great Opportunity if you are willing to take action! Click here to download the PDF.
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