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June 25, 2015 Leaders Win Trust by Not Hiding Their Doubts Leaders have been trained to hide vulnerabilities, to minimize risk, and to be consistent, level-headed, and in complete control at all times. But it’s impossible to trust someone who is always rational, serious, and in control. If you want to win trust from your employees, colleagues, and bosses, you need to have the courage to present yourself as a more complex being. This means becoming comfortable with expressing doubt. Smart leaders know there is more than one right answer, and so even after they commit to a decision, they're not afraid to revisit and change course if necessary. You should adopt the “strong opinions, weakly held” mantra, especially when trying to navigate complex and uncertain situations. Don’t focus so much on always being the visionary; instead, try to be more human. Express doubt, ask for contrarian options, and be willing to change your mind, several times if necessary. Adapted from “Leaders Win Trust When They Show a Bit of Humanity,” by Tim Leberecht. |
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