The 13 Behaviors of a High Trust Leader

Targeted at all levels of an organization.

by Stephen M. R. Covey

What separates the great leaders from the good ones?
What makes a manager a manager of choice by his reports, peers and boss?
While there are many elements to these questions, there is one common thread throughout—that of being a leader who can be trusted. A High Trust Leader is unquestionably trustworthy personally, has the ability to create trust with others interpersonally and then is able to extend that trust organizationally. High Trust Leaders are managers of choice who understand the importance and impact of trust in their personal and professional success, as well as for their organizations.

In this presentation, Stephen M. R. Covey identifies the 13 key behaviors (both characterand competency-based) that all high trust leaders have in common. These 13 actions can be learned and applied by any influencer at any level within any organization. The net result will be success in generating trust in order to achieve better results.

High Trust Leaders:
1. talk straight and keep their word
2. deliver results
3. make and keep commitments
4. listen and understand first
5. demonstrate concern, respect and caring
6. create transparency through being open and authentic
7. make it right when they’re wrong
8. demonstrate loyalty to the absent
9. continuously improve (and seek out feedback)
10. take issues head-on, even the “undiscussables”
11. clarify and renegotiate expectations
12. create and expect accountability
13. extend trust to others