What quality is crucial for establishing trustworthiness, according to Kouzes and Posner?

The quality that is crucial for establishing trustworthiness, as identified by Kouzes and Posner, is doing what you say you will do. This principle underscores the importance of consistency and reliability in leadership. When leaders follow through on their commitments and promises, they create a foundation of trust with their team and stakeholders. This integrity builds credibility and demonstrates that the leader is dependable, fostering a sense of security and confidence among those they lead.

In the context of ethical leadership, following through reinforces the idea that actions align with words, which is a vital aspect of building and maintaining trust. Trustworthiness is essential in forming effective relationships, encouraging open communication, and enabling collaboration within teams. While open communication and setting clear goals are also important for effective leadership, they are secondary to the core principle of being reliable and accountable. Maintaining authority is necessary for leadership but does not inherently establish trust; it is the demonstration of following through on commitments that truly cements trustworthiness.