Do You Use the Five Ingredients To Trustworthy Leadership?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:22:50 -0400

It’s been a few weeks, so here is "My Leadership Opener" for the week! SEE ENTIRE ARTICLE DOWN BELOW

Great reminder and easy steps to follow to build trustworthy leadership in the military and in the civilian world. The best part is, you can agree or disagree with the formula!

Do You Use the Five Ingredients To Trustworthy Leadership?
By Terri Klass
Leadership Skills Training Consultant

I happen to love baking apple pies. Through the years I have experimented with many different piecrust recipes, some containing butter and some containing shortening. Not all recipes lead to tasty piecrusts so I have learned to trust my past baking strategies and only incorporate a new ingredient if it aligns with my past successes.

Learning to be a trustworthy leader is similar to baking an apple pie. We need to take a hard look at what goes into being trustworthy and identify the core elements that make it work. We also need to look at the trustworthy leaders we have worked with and how they were able to gain our trust.

FIVE INGREDIENTS TO BECOMING TRUSTWORTHY:

1. Follow Through Like A Football Pass

Similar to an athlete being counted on to complete a strategic play, leaders too need to be reliable and accountable. If we make a commitment to our team members or people we are collaborating with, then we need to make it happen. If we want to be offered higher level assignments and projects, we must prove we will come through. The interesting part of being known as dependable is that we are actually building relationships and our reputation.

2. Highlight The Mistakes

We all mess up from time to time but what differentiates those of us who have built up credit with others is that we are willing to say we made a mistake.

Tell others that an error was made early on

Find a solution to rectify the mistake either by researching a new approach or by asking team members for their ideas

Share lessons learned so others can avoid the same misstep

Encourage the people we work with to be open about their mistakes by being understanding

3. Talk Straight

The way we communicate with people is key to how they relate to us. When we are honest with our feedback, respectful of their perspectives and speak with clear language, we will be more trustworthy. I had a manager in one of my leadership workshops who felt he should withhold information that people on his team didn’t need to have. After asking him why, he realized that by not sharing all the facts, it was impossible for transparency and real creative problem solving.

4. Listen For The Train Horn

According to Stephen M.R. Covey in his notable book, “The Speed Of Trust”, when we take time to really listen to someone first and get all the information, we not only build up trust with others, but the issues get resolved in a quicker and mutually respectful way. Covey poses these questions about listening to establish trust:

Have I really listened to the other person?

Do I really understand how he or she feels?

Think back to a time when you didn’t listen first. What were the results? What would have been the results if I had listened differently?

5. Give Credit And Recognition

Have you ever worked with someone who took all the credit for a joint project? I was coaching a manager who felt so betrayed when she was not recognized for her contributions. She felt she was not a valued team member and lost trust with her boss. I also had a manager in one of my workshops who felt just the opposite- acknowledged for his outstanding work. He was so appreciative to be given credit for his hard efforts and results and looked forward to future assignments. That is building trust.

What does a trustworthy leader look like to you? How have you shown you are trustworthy?

Terri Klass is a Leadership Skills Training Consultant and Speaker who partners with organizations to create cultures of empowerment and develop future leadership. She delivers highly successful leadership workshops and is a speaker and author of articles about leadership and working with the different generations in the workplace. Learn more about Terri at http://www.terriklassconsulting.com or connect with her @TerriKlass.

Terri Klass | The Leadership Skills Consultant | Terri Klass Consulting

Terri Klass | The Leadership Skills Consultant: Soft Skills for Managers, Assertive Communication, Myers-Briggs, Team Building, Change. 908-654-1554.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Aug 11 at 2015 9:25 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:25:55 -0400

COL Mikel Burroughs ....I would add "Courage" too because that what it takes to lead and do.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 9:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:30:22 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Great Post. MSG Floyd Williams I agree.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 11 at 2015 9:44 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:44:30 -0400

When I would be put in a position with "new" people or people whom had not known about me, there were a few things I would do to establish trust. In no particular order, 1. by having already earned trust from those who DID know me, I knew that there would be "talk" and I knew it would be mostly to my benefit :-). 2nd, like number 4, listen for the train horn (something isn't quite right), and 3rd - demonstrate that I was there for team! This was done in various ways from volunteering to be first in the training, "I'll do it!", encouraging others "You can do it too!", and being the last man standing "You guys go eat/rest/regroup - I'm going to stay here till the last three guys/gals are done!". Also - taking EVERY opportunity to talk to the "team" (everyone) as a group was always a good idea to earn/establish trust.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 11 at 2015 9:45 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:45:03 -0400

I always found a dose of humility served me well. It kept me from making many more mistakes that I'd otherwise make. If you're with 99 people, it's a 99% certainty that someone else has the better solution. That's why you keep pushing the bright kids forward. Helps bring everyone home safe.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Aug 11 at 2015 9:56 AM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:56:52 -0400

I do try to whenever I can. It all depends on the individual if I can use all five or not. You just can't get through to everyone. Especially those who seem to always know it all. You know, those freaking "blockheads."

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 9:57 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:57:11 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Sir, you always post great stuff on leadership! It's greatly appreciated!

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 11 at 2015 10:02 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:02:50 -0400

Sir while I agree with this, I'd add that in order to lead effectively, you need to be able to follow effectively. After that strong listening skills. Anyone can bark orders, or yell commands, but how many actually listen and can take advice?

Response by SFC Stephen King made Aug 11 at 2015 10:10 AM

SFC Stephen King — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:10:37 -0400

I agree with these 5. I also try to practice each one. 1) plan and follow through with the plan or COA. 2) accept Failure and learn from these mistakes. 3) Be honest and don't sugar coat. 4) Know when to take a break and leave the project for the next day. 5) We in the Military are quick to punish but slow to give effective praise for a job well done. I ensure all are recognized for a good job no matter how small.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Aug 11 at 2015 12:12 PM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:12:19 -0400

Yes. and most new managers just dont understand that when dealing with people you need to approach subjects with some compassion. Im not sure if the building stones pictured means your compassionate about your job and im sure thats what it means but I believe its also a requirement to have compassion. I think it makes you a better person and a better leader

Response by SSgt Khanh Pham made Aug 11 at 2015 12:31 PM

SSgt Khanh Pham — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:31:30 -0400

As we tries to study how other's mind works, we often neglect how our mind works.

Some of the earliest President choose to be distant from the subject(citizens). Contrasting to our present President who are trying to be buddy buddy with the subjects(citizens).

I almost want to say, There is no trustworthy leadership!

Compassions often used as a virtual to measure human high moral ground. An illusion of sort, as you cannot measure compassion by action. Intrinsically compassionate or not, the effects of actions can be good or bad for humanity, or any results for that matter. Good intention mean nothing really, if you want to study good leadership. Evil forces has their great leaders, and good forces has their great leaders. The tools cannot be attributed with moral values. A killing blow can be used with compassion or lack of. Althought, without compassion as an internal values, it require a high degree of deceiption skills to maintain consistency in actions that people are drawn to. This is one of the reason why the subject must be observed in its natural uninhibited environment to find its /his/her true form.

Competency is how my brain naturally seek to prove self worth. Yet, During the time of the three kingdom war in China, story, or novel. The most successful faction had the least competent king. He had neither strategy, tactics, or skills. He only wanted to help, and his contribution to the war was sewing slippers for the soldiers. People may not like to take life lesson from fiction, but all invented stories are true to some extent in the context of human history and human future. 1999, I was managing an auto repair shop with my dad. One of his friend spent a few mintues chatting with me and left me a similiar question and something similar to this formula. "you cannot conquer people's heart and mind with competency. They will only truely surrender to compassion." (translated from a word that related to compassion+justice).

openess is just a style. IF it mean transparency then it is better understood by me. still, a black box works just as well. people do not know why their city water is safe, but they trust it to be. People trust their tv to work, and that box is neither transparent or open to the user on how it works.

Reliable. Can there be a counter argument to a reliable leader, probably not. The issue is leader is a cocept, and not specific for measurement. I can always relies on disinformation from my congress and president. I can relies on the truth being witheld. Apparently I can also relies on Rand Paul to show up to every congress meeting, he has 100% attendance record. None of those really matters to me. Reliability in delivery of what was promised is probably high up on my trustworthiness.

The point is not to say this formula will not work. I am not offering another formular or model, as the form will varies depends on who I am training. The point is start with something, and transcend it. Form or culture, allows a beginner to start off with a limited number of rule set. If the formular limits you, then you are limited. You can either stay that way, or not stay that way.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 11 at 2015 12:33 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:33:06 -0400

Interesting premise in the article that is cited COL Mikel J. Burroughs is the concept of becoming trustworthy as opposed to being trustworthy.
I and most of the soldiers I served with tended to assume those we served with, over and for were trustworthy until demonstrated otherwise. Soldiers in line units especially [I expect this applies to the other Services as well] can easily size up the character of those they work with, for or over. There are usually ample opportunities to learn the motivation of leaders and led - who are there to serve, be part of a team, learn and lead a appropriate versus those who are there primarily to further their own ends [nobody wants to learn that they are a stepping stone in somebody else's career.
That being said I think there is some utility in the five ingredients:
FIVE INGREDIENTS TO BECOMING TRUSTWORTHY:
1. Follow Through Like A Football Pass - I think this means do what you stated you were going to do. In general that is a good goal; but, we all know the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray and it is always good to have a plan B, C, etc.
2. Highlight The Mistakes - getting good input during planning is essential; but the leader "owns" the plan. Learning opportunities should be leveraged in training particularly to train the leaders and the led. Learning from mistakes is one of the "best" ways to learn especially when nobody is killed and nothing is damaged beyond repair. As the leader is it my plan and I am responsible for the execution in a changing environment where the enemy gets a vote. I need to be very careful about assigning blame [doesn't not include criminal intent or negligence] and focused on minimizing the bad impact of mistakes and leveraging them to improve the operation as the force moves towards achieving the objectives.
3. Talk Straight - generally good advice to be honest. Security issues need to be guarded obviously and limited to those with a need to know.
4. Listen For The Train Horn - I think that may refer to the end of an operation, training exercise, policy drill, etc. Outside of training very few things have concrete ends. Generally there are follow-on and tangential actions required after a mission has been "completed."
5. Give Credit And Recognition - giving credit where credit is due to the living, dead and wounded is very important.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 1:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 13:48:44 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, The top stone is on top for a reason. If your troops can't depend on you for anything, you're talking about a bunch of disgruntled, confused, troops. Once you have established you are a reliable leader, the rest of the stones fall in place. I think one more stone should be honesty. I made sure my team knew exactly where I stood, and I invited them to do the same thing with me. No matter what the subject was, I never tried to BS them, nor did they do to me. We were a real team who respected one another and protected each other, without me having to harp on them about their role in my team. I had one racially motivated complaint at Ft. Bragg. I was accused of being a racist. But, when the team was interviewed, the accuser was the only one who felt that way. The others said I was firm but fair. He was a trouble maker and he didn't last very long on my team.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 12 at 2015 3:54 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:54:19 -0400

Thanks for sharin. Good ideas here!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 20 at 2017 9:55 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 09:55:09 -0500

I have used 4 of the 5.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Nov 20 at 2017 10:23 AM

SSgt Robert Marx — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:23:06 -0500

The five ingredients of trustworthy leadership do highlight the essential elements of leadership. I like to think of them as to model integrity, be consistent, and be reliable. Integrity is basic character, of treating people in the same way as I would like to be treated, and of never stealing ideas, credit, or material. To be consistent is acting the same to superiors and your inferiors through respecting people as individuals, to accepting credit and blame accordingly, and to giving every job or project your whole effort. To be reliable means always being a good worker, being a true team player in both inferior and superior relationships, and maintaining an even personality with little deviation from day to day.

Response by LTC Terrence Farrier, PhD made Nov 20 at 2017 10:30 AM

LTC Terrence Farrier, PhD — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:30:46 -0500

All good. I focus on #3 and #4. Tell it straight and then follow up with "what is the key point". Then distribute the lesson with compassion. Only the receiver of such information can decided to use the lesson if it is a learned one. It takes introspection from the leader and the led to do it right and so that it sticks.

Response by A1C Ian Williams made Nov 20 at 2017 2:26 PM

A1C Ian Williams — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:26:11 -0500

I agree with Col Mikel Burroughs. Active listening is a key tool to being an effective leader. I find taking a moment to not only listen but also convey that what the other person is saying has a value leads to creating trust. That trust is crucial to building the foundation of a working relationship. The How and Why in certain circumstances can be just as vital as the Who and What.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Nov 21 at 2017 11:41 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:41:57 -0500

Couldn't agree more COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Some of the best people I've worked for/with have all exhibited these traits consistently.

I think the area many in leadership positions fail the most is with point #4. To many get caught in the "My way or no way" mentality. Some of the best solutions to a problem were voiced by the newest member of the team.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Nov 21 at 2017 12:48 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:48:43 -0500

COL great advise

Response by MSG Mark Million made Nov 21 at 2017 12:50 PM

MSG Mark Million — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:50:28 -0500

Words of wisdom, Leadership made simple, though never easy!

Response by Sgt Randy Wilber made Nov 21 at 2017 1:01 PM

Sgt Randy Wilber — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 13:01:21 -0500

Alot of wisdom in the 5, used them all at one point or another didn't realize till seen the list. I believe that your character needs to shine and remember that to be a good leader you have to be a good follower.

Response by Sgt Martin Querin made Nov 21 at 2017 1:19 PM

Sgt Martin Querin — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 13:19:31 -0500

Good stuff COL Mikel J. Burroughs , a solid recipe.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Nov 21 at 2017 2:12 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 14:12:06 -0500

That's an awful interesting Cairn. One that will definitely show you the way to a great future!

Response by SSG David Andrews made Nov 21 at 2017 3:18 PM

SSG David Andrews — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:18:13 -0500

This is an excellent description of leadership. It is concise, simple and understandable. I like it. Thenk you for sharing this Colonel.

Response by SFC Dave Beran made Nov 21 at 2017 3:32 PM

SFC Dave Beran — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:32:58 -0500

I agree. When I see a problem, with me specifically, I work on it. But to me 5 is the least used. Even when I was still in. I would see SNCOS and Officers getting awards for what their people did. And the people got nada. As an E7 when I put my troops in for awards and not myself.

Response by SSgt Bruce Probert made Nov 21 at 2017 3:53 PM

SSgt Bruce Probert — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:53:24 -0500

I always get amused when I hear leadership discussed by civilians to some degree. Good leadership is based on integrity. Without it there is only what ever authority that comes from the position. It is the understanding that all the bad traits of leadership are opposite of the actions of an individual with real integrity. It is right and proper to take responsibility for one's actions, it is right and proper to give credit where due, it is right and proper to praise another's success, it s right and proper to give credit to those who fought the battle and right and proper to stand up for the loses. The true measure of a leader is what does he do when there are no constraints on him or his actions. A leader with integrity is trusted a leader, a leader without integrity isn't a leader, he's a bully.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 21 at 2017 4:19 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:19:35 -0500

Great Sir, it sounds so easy, but we have way too many Toxic leaders who let their position/rank overload their leadership skills.

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made Nov 21 at 2017 4:24 PM

Capt Dwayne Conyers — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:24:06 -0500

Pretty much the key to my success in managing technology teams, COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Open communications is also key!

Response by Donna Brickey made Nov 21 at 2017 5:04 PM

Donna Brickey — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 17:04:04 -0500

Would not disagree with any of those ingredients. Happy Thanksgiving!

Response by Sgt Albert Castro made Nov 21 at 2017 5:55 PM

Sgt Albert Castro — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 17:55:41 -0500

My best leadership days are behind me now. Thankfully I might add. Back then I tried the best I could to emphasize trust and confidence, as a two way street with my teams. From the top down and from the bottom up. Always listen to your guys input. I do like the Five Ingredients To Trustworthy Leadership.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2017 6:38 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:38:27 -0500

Great insight into "Trustworthy Leadership". The most important resource in any organization is people. Treat them as such. People will trust you if they know you care about them and the mission (organization). Honesty, integrity, accountability, and respect are more than words when you live them. Your people will recognize these traits and aspire to emulate the same.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Nov 21 at 2017 11:45 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 23:45:08 -0500

Well said sir ... I would add demonstrate care for your people, although really walking out the 5 above will bring you close to that goal. One of the things I have missed about my time in the service was that comradery and brotherhood we saw. The only place in civilian life I have seen it come close was in the emergency services community. The people under me knew I had their backs, and I knew they had mine.

On a negative side, that attitude got me let go from a civilian job. I refused to punish the people under me for minor errors on some rather exacting jobs in a high volume printing business. Machines, as good as they are are not perfect and neither are people. They were all doing their best, and all good workers, so the manager and I were constantly bumping heads, and not always gently. He fired me, and I had to appeal my workers comp case, when the adjudicator heard both sides, he not only found for me, had some sharp words for my former manager. He is gone, and not missed, but my former coworkers still greet me fondly when I come by with an order, or just to say hi while my wife shops next door.

The older I get the more I appreciate what I had in the service, even with the hard times.

Response by Erin Nelson made Nov 22 at 2017 12:17 PM

Erin Nelson — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 12:17:05 -0500

Words to live by, thank you Colonel. COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Response by PO2 Dan Shulla made Nov 24 at 2017 8:13 AM

PO2 Dan Shulla — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 08:13:29 -0500

awesome

Response by Dennis Aubuchon made Nov 24 at 2017 11:05 PM

Dennis Aubuchon — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 23:05:12 -0500

Thanks for sharing. There are some awesome points being made in the information about leadership. We as individuals in our own way can be leaders and many of us are sometimes without realizing it. The principles made above are right on target and make sense. We should try to remember these points each and every day and be an example for others to follow.

Response by SP5 Jeannie Carle made Nov 29 at 2017 2:02 AM

SP5 Jeannie Carle — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 02:02:52 -0500

I once had a superior who, when asked something that he didn't have an answer for, would ALWAYS say "I don't know, but I'll get a reading on that". When you heard those words, you knew full well he would never come back to you with an answer - you MUST go somewhere else. I really liked the man, but had little respect for his Military knowledge.

Response by SPC John Waisman made Dec 7 at 2017 12:08 PM

SPC John Waisman — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:08:25 -0500

When you find a leader who follows all these, it's a joy to put all you have into your work. When you have a leader who doesn't, work is drudgery.