Building trust as a leader: Lessons from former CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty

In a world where change is the only constant, leaders must navigate their teams through uncertainty, inspire motivation, and maintain focus on collective goals. The modern leader is constantly faced with making decisions that will impact both the business, and the people working within it. Questions like: How do you navigate a corporate acquisition successfully? How do you adapt to constant technological innovation and the change that goes along with it? Ginni Rometty sums it up with one simple concept: Trust. 

As the former chairman, president, and CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty draws on her eight years of experience at the helm of one of the largest technology companies in the world to share lessons she’s learned in leadership throughout her career. In this episode of How to Make a Leader, Ginni offers her insights on the crucial role of trust in leadership, drawn from her book, Good Power.

Together, we explore Ginni's five key principles of how to use power for good to build trust and lead through change, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and a growth mindset. For an extra bit of insight, we asked attendees at the recent Association for Talent and Development conference for their thoughts on the top skills necessary for successful leadership, and how trust plays a role in leadership development. 

For more from Ginni Rometty watch the full How to Make a Leader live interview. 

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to promote transparency and honesty in your team through regular communication techniques.  
• Strategies to engage your team emotionally as well as intellectually through co-creation practices.
• The importance of focusing on skills and aptitude in hiring decisions to create a more inclusive and adaptable workforce.
• Clear principles for technology use that prioritize transparency, fairness, and empowering people.

Things to listen for:
(05:22) Lessons learned in building employee trust after a significant IBM acquisition.
(11:36) Why Ginni values continuous learning in leadership decisions.
(15:49) How using data helps you avoid bias and build transparency.
(18:43) Building psychological safety and trust through communication.