{"id":1758,"date":"2014-08-27T07:40:51","date_gmt":"2014-08-27T11:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.trustacrossamerica.com\/blog\/?p=1758"},"modified":"2014-08-27T07:40:51","modified_gmt":"2014-08-27T11:40:51","slug":"lead-with-integrity-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trustacrossamerica.com\/blog\/?p=1758","title":{"rendered":"Lead With Integrity & Character"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Late last year\u00a0Trust Across America-Trust Around the World\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0published the first in a planned\u00a0series of award-winning books.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0TRUST INC., Strategies for Building Your Company’s Most Valuable Asset<\/em>\u00a0<\/a>brings together the wisdom of 32 experts. Six months later we released our second book,\u00a0Trust Inc. A Guide for Boards & C-Suites<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>In this book,<\/em>\u00a0sixty\u00a0experts have joined forces to offer 100 strategies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout the month of\u00a0August, we will be featuring 31 essays from our second book. Each stands alone\u00a0as an excellent resource in guiding Boards and C-Suites on driving a trust agenda at the highest level in the organization, and provides tools for those who choose to implement trust-building programs in their organization.<\/p>\n

This twenty-seventh essay brings advice\u00a0from Jesse Stoner, a business leader, consultant, and author of several books including the international bestseller\u00a0Full Steam Ahead! Unleash the Power of Vision<\/em><\/a>, which has been translated into 21 languages. Over the past 25 years Jesse has worked with hundreds of leaders using collaborative processes to engage the entire workforce in creating their desired future. Her clients range from Fortune 500’s to non-profits worldwide, including Honda, Marriott, Edelman Public Relations, Skanska, and SAP to name a few. She writes an award winning\u00a0leadership blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Lead with Integrity and Character<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your character is your greatest source of influence, no matter what your role or position. Your character is the expression of who you are. And influential character is built on a foundation of integrity.<\/em><\/p>\n

Integrity is the commitment to consistently act on your values. Integrity means you can be trusted to say what you mean and do what you say.<\/em><\/p>\n

When you are a leader, everything you say and do is magnified. You raise an eyebrow and people wonder what it means. You make an off-handed comment and people react strongly. Each nuance is considered a mandate.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the nature of leadership. It doesn\u2019t matter whether you like it or not. Your actions are being scrutinized every moment. If you are slightly inconsistent, it is magnified in the view of others. You don\u2019t have the luxury of cheating in a silly game or telling a crude joke. You can\u2019t take \u201ctime off.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

You can get compliance through bullying and manipulation, but you won\u2019t be trusted or respected. If you want to be a leader that people choose to follow, they must trust you.<\/em><\/p>\n

Trust is a state that arises naturally like love, joy and gratitude. You can\u2019t command it to arise in others, but you can create the conditions for it to arise. The only place you can start is to act in a trustworthy manner \u2013 with integrity.<\/em><\/p>\n

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I hope you have enjoyed this next sneak peak into our second book.\u00a0If this brief look behind the door has been helpful,\u00a0follow\u00a0this link<\/a>\u00a0to order both of our books online.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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And for those who want to catch up on the series, a quick reference on what’s been covered so far this month:<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

August 1:\u00a0There’s a Reason Why We Call Them Trustees<\/a>\u00a0explains why\u00a0being an “absentee landlord” doesn’t work.<\/p>\n

August 2:\u00a0Kill the Evening Before Dinner<\/a>\u00a0and take a small group of front line employees to dinner instead.<\/p>\n

August 3:\u00a0In Head of Business- Hope for the World<\/a>\u00a0we introduce the Winston “V” Model.<\/p>\n

August 4:\u00a0Reputation vs. Trust<\/a>\u00a0and why leaders should care more about the latter.<\/p>\n

August 5:\u00a0C-Suite Must Speak With a V.O.I.C.E. of Trust<\/a>, a new communications model.<\/p>\n

August 6:\u00a0It Ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way You Do It)<\/a>\u00a0discusses an organization’s core values and traits.<\/p>\n

August 7:\u00a0Superficial CEOs and Their Boards<\/a>\u00a0talks about the fiduciary responsibility of board members.<\/p>\n

August 8:\u00a0Headline: Be the Leaders Others Will Follow<\/a>\u00a0we learn about consistency between actions and words.<\/p>\n

August 9:\u00a0Towards a Mindset for Corporate Responsibility<\/a>\u00a0requiring a shift in mindset on the part of boards.<\/p>\n

August 10:\u00a0Warning: Don’t Drown in the Slogan Swamp<\/a>\u00a0explores the (mis)use of slogans in corporate America.<\/p>\n

August 11:\u00a0Trust in the Boardroom<\/a>\u00a0in creating competitive advantage.<\/p>\n

August 12:\u00a0Three Ways to Build Trust\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0and organization that are blind to the dialogue.<\/p>\n

August 13:\u00a0Lead from the Front<\/a>\u00a0explains why it’s important to remove the filters between leaders and employees.<\/p>\n

August 14:\u00a0Building Trust For Boards & C-Suites<\/a>\u00a0and why published scientific evidence is important.<\/p>\n

August 15:\u00a0(Trust) Communication & the Hiring Process<\/a>\u00a0discusses engaging employees in the decision.<\/p>\n

August 16:\u00a0CEO Tip: Trust Your Board as Your Ally<\/a>\u00a0emphasizes the importance of trusting partnerships.<\/p>\n

August 17:\u00a0The Culture is the Secret Sauce<\/a>\u00a0that must bubble down from the Boardroom to the Mailroom.<\/p>\n

August 18:\u00a0Trust & Strategy Thinking<\/a>\u00a0reminds us that it is hard to trust when you cannot relate.<\/p>\n

August 19:\u00a0Be Proactive About Trust & Integrity<\/a>: just handling problems as they arise is not enough.<\/p>\n

August 20:\u00a0Trust Traps<\/a>\u00a0reminds us to ask the tough questions.<\/p>\n

August 21:\u00a0Trust Danger Signs<\/a>\u00a0and the need for synergy between the Board and Senior Managers.<\/p>\n

August 22:\u00a0Trust & Public Rewards<\/a>\u00a0reminds us to publicly acknowledge and reward staff.<\/p>\n

August 23:\u00a0The Cost of Mistrust<\/a>\u00a0and 8 ways to develop it.<\/p>\n

August 24:\u00a0Forward-Thinking Boards Build Trust<\/a>\u00a0and will commit to lighthouse leadership and employee engagement.<\/p>\n

August 25:\u00a0When Trust Breaks Down: 5 Steps You Can Take<\/a>\u00a0to rebuild it.<\/p>\n

August 26: The Key To Trust in the C-Suite<\/a> is safety, but how do we create it?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Barbara Brooks Kimmel<\/strong>\u00a0is the Executive Director of\u00a0Trust Across America-Trust Around the World<\/a>\u00a0whose mission is to help organizations build trust. She is also the editor of the award winning\u00a0TRUST INC.<\/a>\u00a0book series. In 2012 Barbara was named “One of 25 Women Changing the World” by Good Business International.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\"Print\"<\/a>\"ND<\/a><\/p>\n

Should you wish\u00a0to communicate directly with Barbara, drop her a note at\u00a0Barbara@trustacrossamerica.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2014, Next Decade, Inc.<\/p>\n