Leadership Tip

How to keep your employees honest

Since we were incorporated in 2004, TEN has conducted extensive research into the most important leadership characteristics people expect from their leaders. To date, more than 250,000 people have taken part in the research and 'honesty' has never been off the top spot. Whilst you can't anticipate every conflict of interest employees might encounter. But, you can increase the likeliness that employees act in the company's best interest if you provide clear guidelines. Try using the following tools:

  • Mission. A well-crafted mission statement serves as a "true north" for all employees to follow. Make sure all employees understand it.
     
  • Values. What values should guide your employee's behavior toward customers, suppliers, fellow employees, communities, and shareholders. Being clear about this can help employees avoid putting the company's reputation at risk.
     
  • Culture. A strong corporate culture clarifies what is not allowed. Emphasize the codes of conduct relating to conflicts of interest, confidential information, bribery, discrimination, and harassment.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 ways to build your team

Everyone would like to be part of a dream team - a group of people, each skilled in their own discipline, pulling together to achieve more than they ever could alone. Yet while most organisations talk about teamwork, they still tend to reward individual... read more

10 weekend habits of purposeful leaders

The most impactful leaders know that success doesn’t come from working around the clock - it comes from working with intention. And that includes how we spend our weekends. While weekdays often revolve around performance, the weekend is a chance to reset... read more

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

Leadership Tips

How to become a more courageous leader

When uncertainty rises, many leaders slow down and wait for reassurance. That instinct is human, and often fatal to momentum. Leadership courage isn’t about bold gestures or loud certainty. It’s about taking responsibility when conditions are unclear and... read more

How to lead your attention

In a world designed to distract, attention has become a leadership skill in its own right. What you focus on shapes your decisions, your energy, and your impact. Leaders who fail to manage their attention don’t just lose time, they lose clarity,... read more

How to identify your core values

Those who know me know that values - particularly integrity - matter to me. Not as slogans, but as decision-making tools. When leadership gets difficult, and there’s no clear rulebook, your values are what guide your judgment and protect your... read more