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You’ve likely worked with all kinds of leaders over the years. There’s the calm and collected type who always seems unshaken, the charismatic one who knows just how to rally the team, and maybe even the intimidating boss who keeps everyone on edge. Leadership styles can really shape the workplace—for better or worse.
Have you ever thought of what kind of leadership style to adopt? These days, millennials and Gen Z aren’t just looking for a paycheck or the typical 9-to-5. They’re seeking purpose, strong connections, and a sense of belonging at work. Adopting a transparent leadership style suits today’s climate the best. The benefits of being a transparent leader are often overlooked, but think about it.
Given that you and the rest of your employees spend most of their time at the workplace that the office space kind of becomes second home, building trust among your employees is like having that X factor in your company. And that is where having a transparent leadership comes in. A transparent leader is one who open and honest, and intentionally creates a work environment that is able to generate trust and engagement.
If you are looking to create this sort of workplace, here’s 5 tips for you to help you become a more transparent and effective leader.
The key to adopting a transparent leadership style is to be open to any form of feedback. Let’s face it, being a leader can be tough. Especially when there are disagreements and conflict. You might even get criticized!
Being a transparent leader means you have to be open to feedback and welcome any criticism that may come your way. Make sure to listen carefully to your employees’ feedback and follow up with an action plan if you agree with them. If you do not, explain to them why you don’t and get them to see things from your perspective. The aim should be to create a constructive and honest relationship with every employee.
Admitting mistakes isn’t easy—it’s like standing under a spotlight and letting everyone see you without the filters. But here’s the thing: leaders who can own up to their flaws often gain more respect from their team. It shows you’re human, relatable, and open to growth. A simple statement like, “I know my leadership affects how we perform, and I realize I sometimes take too long to respond when you need help. I’ll work on that,” can work wonders.
By being honest, you’re setting the stage for a culture of trust—like opening a door that invites everyone to bring their authentic selves. When your team knows it’s okay to make mistakes, they’ll feel more confident to admit theirs and focus on improving. Over time, this builds a workplace that feels less like a battleground and more like a community where everyone has each other’s backs. And that’s the kind of workplace people want to stay in.
CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, had this to say:
“You have to be honest and authentic and not hide. I think the leader today has to demonstrate both transparency and vulnerability, and with that comes truthfulness and humility.”
Leaders sometimes have an inclination towards withholding information from their staff rather than sharing with their staff about where the organization is heading towards and what the organization’s strategies and visions are. Don’t be afraid to share such information with your staff freely because more than often, your employees would not want to be kept in the dark about certain matters, and prefer their bosses to be honest with them.
For example, some information that you may want to share with your staff could be the company’s financial statement. While it can be difficult to reveal such information to your staff during a bad financial year, making such information accessible to your employees will
allow them to link their performance to the company’s. Saying something like, “We took a bit of a hit this year financially, but here are our plans for the new year…” will do more good than you think!
One critical step in adopting a transparent leadership style is to get your employee involved in important decision-making processes for the company. Such involvement can include things like getting ideas from your employees on how a particular crisis at a project should be solved, or which particular strategy the company should take for the year.
Allowing your staff to be involved with these decisions show that you trust your staff and value their opinions. Good questions to ask include: “What do you think about this?” and “How do you think we can make this even better?”
Being transparent is all about sharing information, being honest and genuine. This doesn’t mean sitting behind your computer screen, sending out formal emails all day. Instead, try to make things personal.
Organize weekly face-to-face meetings where you and your employees can interact frequently. Through regular contact and interaction with your employee, you get to know them on a more. Doing so can boost the cohesiveness of the team, while allowing transparency and trust to flourish within your workplace. And it’s always nice to be a chum to everyone! 😉
Read Related Article : 5 ways to establish work culture in your remote teams
The importance of having a transparent leader tends to be overlooked. However in this day and age, being an open, honest and genuine leader is more valued than anything else. Gone are the days where people want a traditional form of corporate hierarchy and a top down style of management. Increasingly, many millennial & Gen Z professionals today prefer leaders who are more transparent, more collaborative and more approachable. So if you are a boss who’s looking to be more honest and open with your staff, don’t be afraid to achieve transparent leadership by using these handy tips.
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