aders and are used day-to-day when visions arise. However, leaders do not limit themselves to purely vision sharing and self mind-setting.Leaders Exhibit and Expect TrustAccording to Douglas G. Myers, executive director of the San Diego Zoo, "Upward communication only takes place when leaders are trusting -- and trustworthy." Trust is the highest for of motivation because it brings out the very best in people (Covey, 1989). But, it takes time and patience. On the other hand, distrust leads to many drawbacks - possibly to a great degree (Kotter, 1999, p. 42). Rosen states that successful leaders must be genuine, believable, dependable, predictable, and benevolent (1996). It is important for people to touch and feel leaders as real people. Their word, spoken or written, is credible. Leaders make good on their promises, whether declared or implied. Predictability is about being the same person in all situations so people can predict how leaders react. As Myers says, "I like to have my people understand what Im thinking, and where Im going with it. If they know we are not going to change direction every day, that we are not going to grab every new management philosophy that comes along, it gives them a sense of comfort. It give them a sense of security." Leaders are generally consistent, which encourages safety for employees to work together. Leaders also have the capacity to put aside self-interest for the good of the group (Rosen, p. 75). To avoid defensiveness, protectiveness and legalistic language from employees resulting from a low-trust situation, leaders establish a high-trust communication level (Covey, p. 270). Creating trust is a process that must begin from the top and move down. It starts inside the leader. He understands that he must be honest about himself and about what is going on inside the business. A leader trusts others and earns the trust of others as well. This mutual trust makes relationships and commitments more a...
