Are You a Trustworthy Leader?

When Betty Shotton started the charter airline SouthEast Air in 1996, she made honesty a priority.

She vowed to keep employees updated on goals, her vision and where the company was headed.

Then, when she couldn’t make the numbers work and the airline went south, she promised to help employees find other jobs.

No one doubted she’d follow through – because Shotton, who went on to found five more aviation and vacation rental companies, bases her leadership style on trust.

“Trust is like glue that holds people together,” says Shotton, author of Liftoff Leadership. And the benefits are numerous.

Trustworthy leaders make employees feel more comfortable revealing

weaknesses and vulnerabilities so they can be addressed instead of swept under the rug. “No matter if times are good or bad, your team will stick with you and work to solve problems,” she says.

Attributes of trustworthy leaders include acknowledging when you don’t have all the answers and telling the truth – even when it’s easier to say what someone wants to hear.

Catherine Jefferson, director of talent development at InterContinental Hotels Group, likes to take new team members on a retreat.

“Laying that foundation allows us to connect on a personal level so when we need to challenge each other, the intent is trusted,” she says.

The first step to establishing yourself as a trustworthy leader: check your motives. “Benefits are important. But as a leader, it’s more important to have an interest in those who follow you. If you don’t, you can’t hide that,” says Shotton.

“If you don’t know, just say so,” adds Jefferson. “It shows you’re human.”

Bonus PINK Link: Got career regret? How to resolve it in our online exclusive.

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By Farren Davis

“Trust starts with truth and ends with truth.” Santosh Kalwar