How Do You Recognize a Trustworthy Leader?

By Linda Fisher Thornton

I’m hearing people talking about trustworthy leadership everywhere I go. We all crave it. We seek it out because trustworthy leadership allows us to be at our best so that we can make a meaningful contribution.

To recognize a trustworthy leader, look for all of these tell-tale signs:

Values Centered – character, integrity and moral awareness are top priorities
Full Congruence – behaves the same way in every context, and shows congruence between thoughts, words and deeds
Genuinely Cares – treats people well – everybody, not just the inner circle
Shows Respect – demonstrates respect for people and differences
Other Focused – realizes that leadership is about bringing out the best in others – and it shows in every interaction and conversation

The best leaders strive to live out all five of these characteristics every day. They center themselves in positive ethical values like respect, care and trustworthiness.

What should you do if you can’t find a trustworthy leader? Keep looking. They’re out there.