U.S. Department Of Commerce
Put your trust in other people and they will trust you.
“Put trust in other people, and by trusting others, I have found that they will trust you,” says U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans. “Nothing is more important to being an effective leader than having an unshakable trusting relationship with those whom you work with and those you lead.
“Another powerful principle that guides me is to let people know I care about them, because I do. My actions are grounded in the belief that we are all here to serve a call greater than self—to make other people’s lives better.
“It has been my experience that good leaders are optimistic, positive, have an inspiring spirit, look over the horizon, and believe in long term and high-impact goals.
“Be a good listener. Let people know that you are concerned about their needs, anxieties, and dreams. By doing so you connect with those you lead in a way that shows you value who they are, what they do, and what is important in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
“Leadership is about uniting people, bringing people together and showing people your heart. I also think it is very important for leaders to understand the scope and magnitude of their personal responsibility—to clearly understand that each action they take, every decision they make, and the way they conduct their lives is being closely watched by those whom they lead and impacts their lives.
“A leader’s actions set the tone, determine the course, and leave behind a record of results for history to ponder. It is important to always be mindful that at the end of the road all you have is your integrity or lack thereof.
“Finally, it is important for leaders to have a set of core beliefs to rely and depend on when faced with difficult decisions. Leaders cannot, and should not, separate themselves from their core beliefs. Mine are my faith, family, friends, and my belief in serving others. Those priorities not only shape me, but are the very basis for the decisions that I make.”