These 3 Qualities will make you the most trusted and respected leader in your organization

We love crushing the big goals, accomplishing our vision, increasing our profits, and seeing major returns on our investments. Unfortunately, there are ways that these things can be achieved by manipulation, coercion, and essentially using people to make them happen. And as much as some may claim that they don't care as long as they reach their targets, the reality is none of us want to be known as "that" kind of leader.

When we are alone and put our heads on the pillow at night, we want to be known as trustworthy leaders who people want to work for. Unfortunately, many lack the self-awareness and emotional health to actually become the good kind of leader. While there is much that I've written in previous resources about self-awareness and growth, I want to share the 3 qualities and behaviors that great leaders exhibit that earn the trust and respect we all long for.

1. Consistency in Action and Words. We've all worked for leaders who rarely followed through on commitments and who lacked integrity in their decisions. If we want to be respected and trusted, we must follow through on promises and authentically maintain our integrity and values in our decision-making. When we do this, we build reliability and dependability over time.

2. Empathy and Active Listening. Some feel that we only listen when we want something or we're investigating an issue. People need to know we care genuinely. This means discovering what is important to the other person, listening to their concerns and needs, and fostering an environment where people feel valued and understood.

3. Lead by Example. Being a leader means we go first. We are the first ones to take responsibility when something goes wrong. We are the first ones to forgive or ask for forgiveness. We are the first ones to serve the other person. We must demonstrate the behavior, work ethic, and attitudes we hope to see from those on our team, modeling the standards we want to see.

The biggest thing about these 3 qualities is that they must be practiced over time in order to achieve the impact and trust that we truly long for. It's not easy to be a leader, but if you're going to do it, remember that who you are is the best thing you can offer to those you lead.