- Would you follow you? (Another way to ask this is: How do you become the leader that you yourself would want to follow?)
- How do your employees or colleagues feel about working with you or for you?
- What kind of people are they becoming as a result of your leadership and direction?
An organization’s ethos is one aspect they will carry with them no matter what. And the ethos and character of a company are determined by the leader’s values, beliefs and behaviors.
Simply put, it will be the glue that holds them together and helps them weather the storms of business life.
One of the main ways people can build a great culture is by being true to who you are. Don’t try to please everyone or try to live a chameleon life (being a different person depending on who you are with).
Be transparent, real and do what you say you will do. This authenticity will build trust and respect within your company or team. It sounds easy but you would be surprised at how many people don’t practice this simple yet powerful concept.
Ben Horowitz comments that, “In the U.S. today we get on social media and complain about the lack of empathy in our country. Then we wonder why empathy keeps diminishing. A culture is not the sum of its outrage, it’s a set of actions.”
This week, give yourself a hard look in the mirror and ask yourself: Do my actions line up with my words? If not, what is preventing you from being a more authentic person?
