As much as we teach our kids to be truthful and honest, we must understand that honesty is equally important for us too. The philosophy of “Honesty is the best policy” holds true within the workplace too. We know that being honest is a challenge, considering the kind of age and era we live in today, but openness and honesty at work is important, as these two elements build an environment where people feel trusted. When information is communicated with clarity, it opens the door for greater connection and productivity.
Where does workplace honesty begin?
Honesty at work is a broader concept than the simple expectation that each employee should tell the truth; it is a model that includes trust, integrity, ethics, and a lot more. And, such honesty at work begins with retaining and hiring the right people. In general, employees are always afraid of being their true selves at work, as they feel that they cannot be honest and open about who they truly are. This thought process needs to be broken, and leaders must be able to ensure that their hiring practices encourage honesty at work. And, to be able to interview and bring on the finest candidates who are honest, and can respect the authenticity of each other one at the workplace, you need to rely on the services of some leading leadership hiring companies in India, one like WalkWater Talent Advisors, who have a large talent pool they know, each one with their own traits and qualities, both personal and professional.
The importance of authentic leaders within the workplace
Just as much as one would want to hire true and honest employees, leaders must themselves also be honest and authentic. We understand that staying true at work is not always easy, and can be a really rough ride. Things and situations at work may force one to refrain from being themselves, to avoid the judgement of others. But, not being able to be oneself can make it difficult to truly connect with those around, thus putting immense stress on the mind, and impacting productivity. Lack of authenticity can lead to a toxic workplace culture, where everyone is nothing but deceit and pretence.
How does authenticity help build a positive working environment?
When one opens up about themselves at the workplace, knowing that they won’t be judged based on such elements, the experience for them becomes an undeniably positive one, as a truer version of oneself can help truly connect with others around, bringing about positive and constructive relationships. And when a leader is honest and open, it helps them to become successful leaders, inspiring others to follow the same, and treat the path of honesty and authenticity. Exhibiting authenticity can be challenging for any leader, but if openness is facilitated within the workplace, it can certainly generate real business value. Employees who see honesty and authenticity in leadership, feel more comfortable bringing forwards both the good and the bad news, which in turn improves buy-in for programs and strategies. This kind of openness about speaking their minds encourages a positive workplace culture, one built on empathy and understanding, where everyone feels valued.
The role of authentic leaders
Leaders must have a clear view of how to shape the future of the company, understanding the key ingredients of leadership, one of them being to be open about their identity, and encourage honest connections within the team, thus building a strong foundation for the company. Being genuine with the team and colleagues can bring out the courage and integrity within each one; and with such a courageous and strong team, the company is sure to prosper.
On the whole, a pretence leadership can interfere with the ability to lead! You may certainly face your own fair share of setbacks, but remember, authenticity is always the right choice in the grand scheme of things.
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