The truth about honesty and transformational leadership

People bond with others for whom we feel respect and admiration. These relationships are more fluid than those with which we do not feel a certain identification. Transformational leaders are those who inspire and motivate others to achieve great things. They do this by being truthful and authentic.

The most transformational leaders I encountered in my career mastered this quality from their natural behavior. With them you can go anywhere with joy and desire to do more, clearly this does not happen if the leader in question is not a real person in the way he speaks, listens and acts.

When leaders are sincere, they build trust and credibility among their followers. They also create a safe space for people to be honest and open. This allows for better communication and collaboration, two essential tools for any team or organization to be successful.

There are many different ways to be honest. One way is to simply be honest with yourself and others. This means telling the truth even when it is difficult and being willing to hear the truth even when it is not what you want to hear.

Another way to be sincere is to be authentic. This means being genuine and true to yourself. It means acting in accordance with your values ​​and beliefs, even when it's not easy. When leaders are authentic, they inspire others to be the same.

The natural state of our mind is to wander from here to there without any reason, jumping from one thing to another, going from the past to the future passing through the present without stopping for a moment, always in constant movement, we say that our mind is in motion. autopilot. Being on autopilot we are constantly judging and evaluating the different situations we experience.

As leaders this means that we are leading people and organizations without being present in what we really have to be, we direct and lead on autopilot without stopping to look and know why we have done a certain thing. That is why many times there is little creativity, the autopilot is activated in situations that are already known.

If you want to be a transformational leader, it’s important to cultivate the habit of truthfulness. But this is not something that is learned in a school, university or MBA, but you can learn and improve a lot through mindfulness and the practice of meditation.

Here are some meditation and breathing practices that can help:

• The Witness Meditation: involves sitting quietly and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. As you watch, notice the thoughts and feelings that are true and those that are not.

• Loving Kindness Meditation: also known as Metta, involves sending loving kindness to oneself and others. As you do this, practice being honest with yourself and others.

I also found two good books worth reading.

• The Truth Teller's Handbook by Susan David: It's all about how to speak your mind and share your heart without fear.

• Authentic Leadership by Bill George: Discusses the power of being yourself and how being honest and authentic can lead to positive results such as greater productivity, better morale and stronger relationships.

If you aspire to be a transformational leader, remember this: Be true to yourself. Let your words and actions align with your core values, and watch as your team becomes unstoppable. Embrace your authenticity, and you'll unlock the full potential of those around you.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Share your experiences in the comments below.