Building Trust through Confidentiality: A Vital Aspect of Leadership
Photo by Cytonn Photography
A few years ago, I was conducting 360 interviews for a client, interviewing the individual’s direct reports, peers, and supervisors. As the client was the CEO of the company, his supervisors were all board members, each of them an executive in their own firms. After offering his thoughts, one board member asked, “Do my comments sync with what you’re hearing from others?”. When I answered that I could not share that information, he chuckled, then said, “Let me ask the question another way…”. I still declined to answer. He tried one more time, noting – a little testily - that the board was footing the bill for this. I maintained that it didn’t matter how he asked, I could not breach the confidentiality of the client’s information and the conversations with other 360 participants. Once the process was complete, I would then share the common perceptions of the client’s strengths and areas for improvement with him and the board, as we had agreed.
The board member was annoyed, so why on earth would I risk my relationship with the board, who – as the gentleman reminded me - had hired me as a consultant? Why was this so important to me?
I still consider the risk to be worth it. The greater risk to me would have been to breach confidentiality, which is essential to an executive coaching relationship. Confidentiality is a key building block of trust, a necessary foundation for all productive relationships, both personal and business.
On the personal side, would you consider an individual a friend if you did not feel you could trust them? You might entrust a friend with private information, your personal belongings, or even with your children. Trust underscores your relationship.
In the workplace, trust is vital in many areas:
• Employees trust that management will keep their personal information confidential, including discussions or actions related to that information.
• Management and shareholders trust that financial data, proprietary information, trade secrets, processes, and plans will not be shared with others unless agreed and/or required by law.
• Management trusts that customers will pay for products and services delivered – and trusts that they have recourse if that doesn’t happen. Customers and clients, in turn, trust that your company will deliver the products or services promised.
• Most importantly, it’s critical that your team trusts YOU as a leader, and that you also trust them. You may demonstrate your own trustworthiness in many ways: respecting confidentiality, consistently evidencing ethical behavior, being accountable for your commitments, and allowing the open and blameless exchange of ideas. If they trust you, they can follow you.
Trust creates the base for risk-taking; embracing your vision, being willing to implement change, and committing to team goals.
“Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people.”
Stephen Covey
~ Tracey
Fundamental of the Week #16: RESPECT CONFIDENTIALITY
Honor the trust others give us. Be rigorous about safeguarding confidential information and be clear to other people about what should be kept in confidence.
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