In general, transparency is an important element of effective
leadership, which involves decision-making processes and giving
access to all staff to acquire information regarding organizational
activities (Dholakia, 2023). Some leaders may think that transparency
or sharing information with employees is not that necessary for the
completion of a specific project or task, but it is a misconception.
Transparency is crucial for fostering a collaborative and open work
environment and building trust among all the team members. Reina
and Reina (2009) state that the business ethic of transparency is
essential for the completion of specific tasks or projects (Reina &
Reina, 2009). The organizational leaders may give information about
their decision-making processes and activities when staff may not be
directly impacted for different reasons. Here, transparency helps to
develop credibility and trust with all the team members. It has been
found that when leaders are honest and open about their decision-
making processes and activities, the team members are more likely to
believe them and trust them. This can help to increase employee
commitment and engagement in the organization and reduce
employee turnover. Moreover, transparency also helps to promote a
culture of organizational accountability (Bennis, Goleman, & O'Toole,
2008). If leaders are transparent about their decision-making
processes, then they will be more accountable for their decisions and
actions. This can help to ensure the decisions taken are meeting the
interest of stakeholders and the organization and prevent unethical
behavior. Further, transparency can promote innovation and
collaboration within the organization. If all the staffs get access to
information about the organizational decision-making process and
other activities, they could better understand the organizational
objectives and goals. It can help to determine some areas where they
can develop innovative solutions for organizational challenges and
contribute to the success of the organization.
Here, I would like to support the notion that a leader must share
important information about the decision-making process and their
activities. I feel transparency is crucial for developing credibility and
trust with employees, fostering a culture of innovation and
collaboration, and promoting accountability in the organization.
However, the leader needs to balance transparency with the
requirement for privacy and confidentiality in certain situations. Thus,
it can be said that transparency is an essential component of effective
leadership that can help to achieve organizational goals in a
cooperative way. The leaders can maintain privacy and confidentiality
to ensure that the stakeholders and organization can meet their goals
and objectives.
References
Bennis, W., Goleman, D., & O'Toole, J. (2008). Transparency: How
leaders create a culture of candor. John Wiley & Sons.
Dholakia, U. (2023). Transparent Business Leadership. Transparency
in Business: An Integrative View, 111-134.
Reina, D. S., & Reine, M. L. (2009). Trust and betrayal in the
workplace: Building effective relationships in your organization.
ReadHowYouWant. com
