Do you have a leadership philosophy? You might need one if you plan to lead with consistency and credibility.

A leadership philosophy gives you a certain level of transparency that inspires others to have confidence in you. To begin working on your philosophy, ask yourself these questions:

• What do I stand for?
• What are my primary values, the ones that I will never compromise?
• Where are my priorities?
• What's my point of view about the things that really matter?

Leadership Philosophy: On to the Tough Stuff

The next question is a little tougher. You'll need to ask yourself this: If someone had shadowed you for the past two weeks, would the actions they observed be a true reflection of your values and priorities? Or did your values and priorities break down when the situation changed? Were there critical incidents that caused you to behave in ways that were not aligned with your values and priorities?

The evidence of what you truly believe is always going to show up in your behaviors.

If you feel that people misunderstand you, perhaps it's because you're not consistent in what you're exhibiting to them. When you have transparency that stems from a solid philosophy, you’ll be more consistent, more credible, more predictable, and more trustworthy. People will know what to expect from you.

Align Your Actions

The word “transparency” means “to easily see through, recognize, or detect.” When people are transparent, they’re more obvious and more open.

The origin of that word, transparency, means “to show through.” Let who you are show through your actions!

Transparency is so much more than a business buzzword. It's in essential ingredient of leadership.

When you have a strong leadership philosophy and transparency, there won't be any more smoke-​and-​mirrors games. You'll take the guesswork out of everything you do. You won't be seen as someone who is flip-​flopping or mysterious. You won't have a hidden agenda, and you won't be subject to situational ethics. You'll have clarity. Clarity is what you need to become transparent.

The Clear Benefits of Transparency

The benefits to you of being transparent include the heightened credibility that you'll have and the trustworthiness that comes with it. Just as important, you'll be able to live authentically. Your leadership philosophy will serve as an internal compass. You'll know when to say “yes” and when to say “no.” Your actions will be aligned with your beliefs. You’ll feel good about what you're doing because you will never feel like you're an imposter.

Transparency starts with crafting your philosophy, and your philosophy starts with figuring out exactly who you want to be and how you will become that person through your actions.