It's all about Trust (and Accountability)...
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Where does the buck stop?
Taking responsibility is a hallmark of true leadership, and it's a counter-intuitive thing to do when your back's against the wall and your business and reputation is on the line.
But it is the brave and morally right thing to do.
Because as Leader, Founder, or CEO, ultimately the buck DOES stop with you.
Unfortunately we've all seen far too many bosses hide behind the "it wisnae me!" response (or even cries of "witch hunt!" 🙄) when the brown smelly stuff hits the fan...
Blaming other people, circumstances, employees, supply problems, whatever - rather than stepping up and saying "We got this wrong as a business and, as its leader, I'm taking personal responsibility for making sure things get sorted."
There - how refreshing, honest, and credible does that sound?
Wouldn't that response make you want to trust somebody more rather than less?
Only if those words are then quickly followed up by transparent and positive action...
Difficult as it may be, admitting missteps fosters trust and demonstrates that accountability is not just a word you pay lip-service to.
Cases in Point
Following the Boeing 737 MAX incidents, CEO David Calhoun publicly acknowledged the company's role and pledged to regain trust: "Over these last few weeks, I’ve had tough conversations with our customers, with our regulators, congressional leaders, and more. We understand why they are angry, and we will work to earn their confidence."
Xcel Energy's CEO, Bob Frenzel, in expressing remorse for the Texas wildfires potentially linked to their facilities, said "We are deeply saddened by the losses incurred in this community, and we are committed to supporting its renewal and recovery.”
Beyond Words - Action is Key
Boeing's commitment to a comprehensive safety plan could be a genuine effort towards improvement - but only if they are seen to be delivering on that promise. And sadly not only are they dragging their heels, but more and more stuff is coming out of the woodwork that indicates it is going to take a long time to turn this particular ship around and regain the trust of their potential clients.
Equally, if Xcel Energy are serious about supporting the communities affected by the wildfires, then they need to walk this particular talk sooner rather than later.
How could they do this?
☑️ Creating a community support fund that those who are affected can access to help them rebuild their homes, businesses, and lives - and not being a royal PITA or niggardly about dealing with claims. Why? Because we all know that insurance companies will take forever to pay out, and time is not on the side of the people hurting right now.
☑️ Holding a rapid, thorough and transparent investigation to determine their part in the disaster, publishing those findings, and investing in any infrastructure required to make sure that the chances of this happening again - not just in Texas but anywhere they are operating - are reduced to as small as possible.
☑️ Not hiding behind lawyers and their insurance companies. I know that the US is a damn litigious place to live and work, but forcing people affected by your actions to file a lawsuit before you help out is never a good look if you really ARE sorry...
Public Trust Requires Accountability
Customers, regulators, and the broader business community place their trust in companies. When leaders publicly acknowledge shortcomings and actively work towards solutions, they inspire confidence and pave the way for lasting progress.
Remember: Effective leadership goes beyond strategy and execution. It requires courage to take responsibility, rebuild trust, and actually make things better.
What I've been doing this week
It's that time of the year again - or at least in the UK - so I've been starting the process of creating and filing our annual accounts. And it's been an exciting year for Growth Circles. We've gone from being a dormant company in January last year with a turnover of precisely ZERO, to just short of a six-figure revenue business in under 12 months. And I'd like to pay tribute to my amazing Chief Knowledge Officer, Shiva Venkateswaran, at this point - because we wouldn't have done this without his support and input.
Together, Shiva and I have also been working on a new product, PerforMetrix™️, that builds on his skills in employee engagement and talent/performance management, built on the brilliant @ThriveSparrow platform. Imagine an all-in-one solution for employee engagement, performance management, and the all-important employee recognition - all tied into your company vision, mission, OKRs and goals - and all for less than the cost of a cup of coffee every working day for each of your employees.
Watch this space, as we're getting ready to launch! (And if you'd like your business to be one of our Beta testing partners, just drop me a DM.)
What I'm Reading
Thanks to a recommendation from the host of AI Experience, Julien Redelsperger, and the joy that is www.getAbstract.com, I've dived into Barry O'Reilly's Unlearn, a brilliant book that breaks down the whys and hows of how to unlearn the mindset and habits that are stopping progress and growth.
Helpfully, it also helps you identify and take baby steps to "relearn" your perspectives and absorb new information which will lead to a growth breakthrough.
It outlines and reframes a lot of the work that I do with my clients, and will now be my go-to "homework" to issue to a new client early on in our relationship!
Knowing that most of you really don't have the time to read the full book, here's a link to the free getAbstract of Unlearn just for you.
Substacks worth subscribing to: as promised, I've compiled a list of my must-read newsletters and creators, which you can find here.
But it's not just business books and current affairs stuff that I consume. My trusty Kindle Fire is stacked with both fiction and non-fiction for winding down before I go to sleep. The blue light settings mean I can read after my DH has gone to sleep, and I won't disturb him if I wake up in the night and need to read some more before I re-enter the kingdom of the Sandman 😎.
My Kindle Unlimited subscription is honestly one of the best monthly investments into self care that I've ever made. So what am I reading this week? Well, I've been devouring Gregg Olsen's books - both the true crime and his outstanding fiction, and I'm currently reading "The Last Thing She Ever Did". No spoilers here, but let's just say that there is a strong connection (which I just realised this morning) between this and the main theme of today's Founders' Fuel...
Three Pillars of Growth™️ - 3 Things to Do This Week
Strategy: A razor-sharp value proposition is key. This week, revisit yours. Does it clearly solve a problem and offer unique value? Does it resonate with your target audience? Can you explain it concisely and convincingly? Refining your message builds trust and attracts the right customers and investors.
Structure: Clear communication is a must-have for a high-performing team. Analyze your current channels: too many tools? Information silos? Streamlining your communication reduces confusion, fosters transparency, and ensures everyone's on the same page.
Leadership: While aiming for consensus is tempting, prioritizing commitment can be more effective. This week, encourage healthy debate. Solicit diverse perspectives, focus on the strength of arguments, and once a decision is made, foster a culture of commitment where everyone supports its execution.
Wondering how stable your foundation for the Three Pillars of Growth™️ is? Find out with our FREE (and absolutely no obligation) Three Pillars Power Assessment™️
I'll Leave You Now With These Golden Nuggets
This week's quote: "Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts." – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 5. Whether you like it or not, your mindset will be reflected in your actions as a Founder, CEO or leader.
Give it a try: So last week, I talked about getAbstract.com and it's immense value to the busy executive in summarising the best books (try asking its new AI a question!). This week, I would like to pay tribute to www.blinkist.com which I use quite a bit when I'm out walking our three Labradors. I particularly like that once it's finishing reading me one summary with key takeaways, it will find me another book in a similar vein and automatically start reading me that!
Hope this latest edition of Founders' Fuel topped up your leadership tank - what's been YOUR biggest challenge as a Founder, CEO or leader this week?