“Do as I do” should be the mantra of every serving leader. A leader’s credibility weighs in the balance and they will either gain the deep respect of those whom they serve, or they will be discarded as hypocrites in the minds of their workers, “bosses with no integrity, no honor.”
The most powerful leaders in the world are those whom are viewed as authentic and credible. Leaders must insure that the message they intend to give is the message that others actually receive. No amount of communication will close a “say-do gap,” the loss of trust experienced by a worker who witnesses a boss not doing what they say the will do. This causes fundamental mistrust of leadership and restoring that trust is the key to an empowered workforce.
Trust is a real verifiable resource and being trustworthy can be learned and mastered. It is a matter of exercising greater character and greater discipline. One of those disciplines is for leaders to be guided by purpose. A deep sense of purpose creates fertile soil for innovation, especially when faced with challenges. Team members will work hard when inspired by leader fueled by purpose.
