Tear Down The Walls So Trust Can Get In

We’ve all heard it—a leader says I was unaware, that illegal practices were going on. I had no indication that misconduct was happening. I had no clue that certain decisions were being made.

And the questions always follow: How does a top leader not know what is going on in their company? How does a top leader not know about the day-to-day decisions?

It happens, and it happens more often then we would like it to.

And there is this reality: It is impossible for a top executive to know everything that is going on in their company at all times. In the ideal world it would be great, but in the real world it doesn’t happen. And, to be honest, it is not the top executive’s job to be involved in every detail of the business. Those who do are considered micromanagers and control freaks.

But there’s a different level of that reality as well, one based in the highest responsibilities of leadership.

A leader is responsible for what is right and what is wrong. Great leaders inform their organizations by mapping out values and measuring alignment with those values. The organizational values must be viewed as immutable. And the leader must walk the talk by embracing and living out those values.

A leader is accountable for what we tolerate what we won’t tolerate. Great leaders monitor how well their organization is embracing the values and principles, and they make it clear that deviating from the values will not be tolerated. The next time you’re faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run and it will gain you trust until the end of time.

A leader is answerable for what we stand for and what we don’t stand for. In everything that is discussed and produced, great leaders convey the message of their values and principles. They have a resounding echo throughout the organization

A leader is responsible for how we behave and how we don’t behave. Great leaders understand that the people make the place and that values shape behavior. A values-driven person, drives the work they do. is always trusted.

It is not good enough that your organization has a great strategy.

It is not good enough that your strategy is going to get you results.

Your strategy and leadership need to all be based on values with the expectation that everyone, top to bottom, will adhere to those values.

If you want to be trusted in the world of globalization, where everything you do is seen and everything you think is heard, erecting walls and saying, “Sorry, I just didn’t know”—this is not going to work anymore.

Leadership should be dedicated to living and leading lives to a more trusted culture.

Lead From Within: As the leader, if you want your company to be trusted, break down the walls and erect a foundation of values and principles that everyone from top to bottom knows and the rest of the world sees and feels. Because living and leading by values is the foundation of trust.

 


 

N A T I O N A L   B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

buy now

 


Additional Reading you might enjoy:

 

Photo Credit: Getty Images


Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.

Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.


Warning: Use of undefined constant woothemes - assumed 'woothemes' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /srv/www/paramvir.0001.ro/lollydaskal/wp-content/themes/lolly-daskal/comments.php on line 23

Warning: Use of undefined constant woothemes - assumed 'woothemes' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /srv/www/paramvir.0001.ro/lollydaskal/wp-content/themes/lolly-daskal/comments.php on line 23

Warning: Use of undefined constant woothemes - assumed 'woothemes' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /srv/www/paramvir.0001.ro/lollydaskal/wp-content/themes/lolly-daskal/comments.php on line 23
37 Responses
Warning: Use of undefined constant woothemes - assumed 'woothemes' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /srv/www/paramvir.0001.ro/lollydaskal/wp-content/themes/lolly-daskal/comments.php on line 23
to “Tear Down The Walls So Trust Can Get In”

  1. Panteli Tritchew

    10. Jun, 2014

    Great reminder for leaders about accountability, Lolly!

    “And the leader must walk the talk by embracing and living out those values.” Leaders must not only codify, communicate and comply with their corporations’ values and principles, they need to embrace them and embody them. Maybe not every minute of every day and maybe not in every single interaction—that would be impossible—but in the greater part of everyday and in all of their critical interactions.

    Senior level leaders who are aware that in all they say and do, “They have a resounding echo throughout the organization,” will realize that those ripples either reinforce or reduce the foundations of trust upon which corporate values are built.

    At some level, Louis XIV’s “L’État, c’est moi” (“I am the state”), while frighteningly narcissistic, has an element of corporate truth.

    Great day to you!

    Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Panteli,

      You are so spot on!

      Leaders must not only codify, communicate and comply with their corporations’ values and principles, they need to embrace them and embody them. Maybe not every minute of every day and maybe not in every single interaction—that would be impossible—but in the greater part of everyday and in all of their critical interactions.

      Senior level leaders who are aware that in all they say and do, “They have a resounding echo throughout the organization,” will realize that those ripples either reinforce or reduce the foundations of trust upon which corporate values are built.

      Thank you for sharing, I always look forward to your input and wisdom.

      Lolly

      Reply to this comment
  2. Frank Sonnenberg

    10. Jun, 2014

    Great post Lolly. While it is true that “It is impossible for a top executive to know everything that is going on in their company at all times” they are ultimately responsible for everything that happens. That’s why it’s so important to retain awesome people, promote good values, eliminate impediments to their job, and get out of their way.

    Have an awesome day!

    Best,

    Frank

    Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Frank you nailed it when you say….

      …..it’s so important to retain awesome people, promote good values, eliminate impediments to their job, and get out of their way.

      True wisdom.

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

      I appreciate you.

      Lolly

      Reply to this comment
  3. Paul Sohn

    10. Jun, 2014

    Great wisdom Lolly.

    The truth is leaders like walking megaphones. Every word and action are amplified and replicated by his/her direct reports and ultimately the entire company.

    That’s why we leadership isn’t for the faint of heart. When you have a character that is rock solid and intense focus to serve, the spotlight doesn’t matter…

    But I noticed how when leaders who lack a rock-solid foundation begins to vacillate when spotlight over-burdens them.

    Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Insightful wisdom Paul,
      ….leadership isn’t for the faint of heart. When you have a character that is rock solid and intense focus to serve, the spotlight doesn’t matter…

      Thanks for sharing.

      Lolly

      Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Where values do not exist or are not clearly communicated, a vacuum is created in which doubt, cynicism, and distrust can quickly take root.

      Reply to this comment
    • Weighted vest running

      31. Jan, 2015

      I’ve been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found
      any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.
      Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the
      web will be a lot more useful than ever before.

      Reply to this comment
  4. LaRae Quy

    10. Jun, 2014

    Loved your post, Lolly.

    Isn’t it surprising how few organizations have “values” attached to their mission? By default, it’s all about making money. Often it starts with a small little company that is struggling to make payroll, but after a while, after they’ve gotten on their feet, there is still no attention paid to the what the company actually stands for.

    Values are important, and leaders need to emody them. Thanks for the reminder 🙂

    Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      if you are truly a values-based leader, and your create a values-based organization, you most likely will look beyond the horizon of your own mission and consider what it means to be socially responsible.

      VALUES DRIVE SOCIAL AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

      Thanks LaRae for stopping by.

      Always great to see you.

      Lolly

      Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Communicating our values always helps us set expectations for what behavior is acceptable and what is not acceptable. the clear we are on our values the better that people will understand our personal actions.

      Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Working for a values-based leader motivates the team members not only to do their jobs but also to take ownership of their tasks and responsibilities.

      Reply to this comment
  5. simon harvey

    10. Jun, 2014

    Nice post Lolly. If walls you have, innovation you stifle and trust you suffocate.

    Step back and bring out the mirror of within, it’s really that simple. No secrets to stop your success but your own.

    If your values are not inline with the company or organization, down you will come for time comes for all.

    Tear down the walls, and even better, don’t build them in the first place. Imagine tomorrow is your last day on earth, and think what you want to leave. Be courageous, open your mind to the beauty and power of vulnerability. Leadfromwithin your heart, not from within walls.

    Looking forward to the chat tonight. See you soon.

    Reply to this comment
  6. Terri Klass

    10. Jun, 2014

    Terrific post, Lolly! While senior leadership can’t know about everything, they can make sure their team of leaders models the core values of the organization.

    I have seen in many of my workshops that managers at different levels are unfamiliar with their organization’s values. It is impossible for those managers to lead using the company values if they don’t even know what they are and what they mean.

    I believe in posting the values everywhere, talking about them in every decision that is made and aligning every action with them.

    Thanks,
    Terri

    Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      The truth is if we are willing to devote our time and energy to creating an authentic values statement, there’s a good chance that the resulting values will stand up in our organization.

      Thanks Terri for adding your always insightful wisdom.

      Lolly

      Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      10. Jun, 2014

      Values must come from within the organization itself and be embraced by every single person—universally and consistently.

      Reply to this comment
  7. diatomaceous earth fw 60

    11. Jun, 2014

    Wow, that’s what I was searching for, what a material! existing here at this weblog, thanks admin of this web
    site.

    Reply to this comment
  8. Bob Brady

    13. Jun, 2014

    Great post.

    Just as a business leader must continue to invest in R&D and marketing to preserve market share, they should also get granular with respect to their company’s culture. Identifying, preserving and amplifying winning organisational traits are all necessary qualities in today’s competitive landscape.

    Reply to this comment
  9. Joey McGuire

    15. Jun, 2014

    Hi Lolly,

    Quite a thought-provoking post on values. I agree with Terri’s comment, “It’s impossible for managers to lead using the company values if they don’t even know what they are and what they mean.”

    It would also be difficult for these managers to lead with these values if they did not share them on a personal level, at least to some degree.

    Thanks for the insight, Lolly.

    Joey

    Reply to this comment
  10. ครีมหน้าใส

    16. Jun, 2014

    I needed to thank you for this great read!! I certainly enjoyed every bit of it.
    I have you book-marked to check out new things
    you post…

    Reply to this comment
  11. Dr. Kelly Edmonds

    18. Jun, 2014

    I’ve noticed that trust is a big factor among CEOS. For instance, recently I met the top awarded business woman in Canada, Kelsey Ramsden, and heard her speak time again about building and insisting on trust in all work relations, whether staff, clients, strategic partners. She built two mufti-million $ companies based on that motive.

    Reply to this comment
  12. nike free run

    31. Aug, 2014

    Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this web site before but after
    going through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

    Reply to this comment
  13. Jyoti Prakash Haldar

    16. Sep, 2014

    Really Lolly I’m really grateful to you for elaborating further!

    Reply to this comment
  14. EarnestRKutzer

    02. Jun, 2015

    I blog often and I seriously appreciate your information. This great article has truly peaked my interest.

    I’m going to bookmark your blog and keep checking for new information about
    once per week. I subscribed to your Feed as well.

    Reply to this comment
  15. AhmetBarkuş

    30. Jun, 2015

    Thanks you Lolly

    Reply to this comment
  16. cytotec

    22. Dec, 2015

    This blog is so nice to me. I will continue to come here again and again. Visit my link as well.
    Good luck

    Reply to this comment
  17. sipul

    14. Jan, 2017

    I could have sworn I’ve visited this web site before but after going through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

    Reply to this comment
  18. Peter Ashworth

    28. Sep, 2017

    So true. An inspiring vision combined with a clear understanding of the organizations “values” at every level contributes strongly to an excellent “culture” – which is the basis of success. A while back I wrote an article on culture you might enjoy. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-company-culture-so-important-business-success-peter-ashworth/

    Reply to this comment

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. This Week’s Links « Timothy Siburg June 17, 2014

    […] Daskal wrote, “Tear Down the Walls So Trust Can Get In.” I love her conclusion! Lolly writes, “Leadership should be dedicated to living and […]

  2. Tear Down the Walls So Trust Can Get In | Alvin Plexico, PhD June 20, 2014

    […] Tear Down the Walls So Trust Can Get In by Lolly Daskal […]

  3. Become The Leader Worth Following - Lolly Daskal | Leadership and Personal Development | Lolly Daskal July 29, 2014

    […] Tear Down The Walls So Trust Can Get In […]

  4. This Week’s Links « Timothy Siburg September 16, 2014

    […] in June, Lolly also wrote, “Tear Down the Walls so Trust Can Get In.” Check this out if you missed it back when it was […]

  5. Trust Matters. Learn How To Earn and Keep It. - Lolly Daskal | Leadership and Personal Development | Lolly Daskal December 2, 2014

    […] Tear Down The Walls So Trust Can Get In […]

  6. To Trust Means To Be Careless - Lolly Daskal | Leadership and Personal Development | Lolly Daskal February 3, 2015

    […] Tear Down The Walls So Trust Can Get In […]

  7. Sometimes You Have to Look Back to Move Forward - Lolly Daskal | Leadership | Lolly Daskal December 29, 2015

    […] Reading: Tear down the wall so trust can get in How to become a leader people want to follow What legacy are you leaving How to become a leader […]

  8. 7 Basic Things Every Great Leader Should Know - Lolly Daskal | Leadership | Lolly Daskal May 29, 2016

    […] Reading: Tear down the wall so trust can get in How to become a leader people want to follow What legacy are you leaving How to become a leader […]

  9. To Trust Means To Be Careless - Lolly Daskal | Leadership | Lolly Daskal June 21, 2018

    […] Tear Down The Walls So Trust Can Get In […]


Warning: Use of undefined constant woothemes - assumed 'woothemes' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /srv/www/paramvir.0001.ro/lollydaskal/wp-content/themes/lolly-daskal/comments.php on line 66

Warning: Use of undefined constant woothemes - assumed 'woothemes' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /srv/www/paramvir.0001.ro/lollydaskal/wp-content/themes/lolly-daskal/comments.php on line 66
Leave a Reply