Although there are different types of leadership styles, we can usually define leadership in two distinct categories.
The word “leader” usually brings to mind someone who is a leader of a group or an industry. We might also picture someone who is leading the way in business or in sports. The leader in golf would be someone like Tiger Woods, while Apple is the leading brand in portable music devices.
But contrary to what many people think, leadership is so much more than a person directing a group or leading in sports. Most people who try to lead groups will give orders or even try to trick people into doing what the “leader” wants.
Negative experiences have taught people to be leery of so-called “leaders.” They don’t want someone tricking or taking advantage of them.
There are different types of leadership to pursue, but you need to stay away from anything that involves deceit and mistrust. Your credibility is shattered once your followers realize you’re deceiving them.
You need integrity in order to create trust in your followers. They have to believe you’ll do what you say you’ll do. You walk the talk.
Many leaders go wrong by making commitments that they can’t keep. For this reason, it is essential what you say to your followers.
Don’t worry about turning people off with cautious promises. In fact, people will have more confidence in you because they know you’ll only make promises you’ll keep. They will be better followers, because they know you mean what you say.
Let’s say, just as an example, that you decided to promise to give one of your subordinates a raise next year. This is a problem.
Giving raises in most cases is out of a person’s hands, especially if you don’t know how the company will do throughout the year. It may be better to approach a raise with your followers reaching sales goals.
Sometimes keeping promises can be really inconvenient. However, it is to your benefit to do all you can to keep them, even if it requires a little inconvenience. If there ever comes a time when you do need to pull out of a promise, apologize and try to find some kind of compromise.
All types of leadership can benefit from incorporating integrity. Leaders who demonstrate integrity are a lot more successful.
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