Leaders: Transparency & Authenticity Builds Trust
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Being real builds trust.
This isn’t just a philosophy. It’s a practical approach for a more effective way for leaders and organizations to communicate, especially during times of change or challenge. If you’re in a leadership role or responsible for messaging to your teams, here’s something to keep in mind: people believe in sincerity and authenticity.
Leaders are believed when they’re real.
When you’re in a leadership position, your words carry weight. So the way you use your voice really matters across the board when it comes to communication — especially when responding to feedback, sharing direction, or navigating uncertainty.
Let’s take a common example: employee engagement surveys. Maybe the results came in and they weren’t glowing. Instead of putting on a shiny, spin-heavy response about how perfect everything is going, try something more like:
“We know we’re not perfect. Your feedback is so valuable and appreciated. It helps us see things we might be missing, and that’s how we get better. Here’s what’s happening next based on what we heard.”
Simple. Honest. Way more effective and believable for employees to hear.
“When communication lacks transparency, vulnerability, and sincerity, people feel like they’re being put on.”
Ditch the facade, no one buys it.
Too often, organizations feel pressure to look flawless. Leadership messages come out sounding like press releases — polished to the point of inhuman. But people don’t connect with that. If anything, it creates distrust. When communication lacks transparency, vulnerability, and sincerity, people feel like they’re being put on.
There’s power in acknowledging imperfection. It’s not weakness. It’s just real. And that kind of transparency tells your team, “We’re human, and we’re learning, just like you.”
“Trust is foundational when you’re asking people to adapt, stay engaged, and move forward with you through challenges or uncertainty.”
Vulnerability builds connection.
When leaders show vulnerability like, “We don’t have all the answers about everything, but we’re committed to listening and improving” that lands. It resonates and feels honest, and like it wasn’t written by a robot.
It’s also a much better way to lead through change. Trust is foundational when you’re asking people to adapt, stay engaged, and move forward with you through challenges or uncertainty.
“When crafting a message or responding to feedback, don’t default to polished spin. Come from a place of being real.”
Make “human” your default tone.
At the end of the day, no one expects perfection. What they would like is honesty. And the more you as a leader, and the organization, can communicate with clarity, humility, and openness, the more buy-in and trust you’ll have from employees and the stronger your culture becomes.
When crafting a message or responding to feedback, don’t default to polished spin. Come from a place of being real, “Here’s where we are, here’s what we’ve heard, here’s what we’ve learned, and here’s what we’re going to do as a result.”
It’s a better way to lead.
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop
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