Why is consistency important in leadership

Consistency matters particularly in meeting milestones and completing projects because the initial excitement and enthusiasm wanes as time goes on. What keeps you on course? Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals. As a leader, it is doubly important that you maintain a consistent approach with your team. If you are inconsistent then people wait to act, often because they want to see what you are going to ask them to do first, rather than feeling comfortable in taking the initiative.

This can cause delays, increased risk and costs. If you have consistent service and delivery then you can focus on promoting a positive brand and image with your stakeholders. I would love to hear your feedback in the comment sections and send me your questions for the next askcio blog. I am available o n the various social channels below and snapchat. David Chou is a senior healthcare technology executive with experience working in the healthcare space throughout the world.

Here are the latest Insider stories. More Insider Sign Out. Sign In Register. Sign Out Sign In Register. Latest Insider. Check out the latest Insider stories here. More from the IDG Network. The short answer is everything. A clear and consistent leader makes it easier for followers to better predict what will happen — not only to them, but to their teams and their organization. This settles everyone down and frees them up to do their best work. I have a question for you.

Where might your employees need more clarity from you and about what? At first blush, that might be a hard question to answer.

Most leaders I coach believe they have been much clearer than they actually have been. Clarity is the life blood of an organization. When leaders clearly communicate their values, their priorities, and their expectations an amazing thing happens: They foster alignment, build trust, and support efficient execution.

When a leader is clear, followers can follow them — it's as simple as that. Think about it this way. Keep in mind that the kind of clarity I am talking about requires frequent communication and two-way dialogue. Just telling people what you think is not enough.

Being consistent gives you leverage in the form of moral authority. If you walk the talk, you can expect that others will walk the talk. My definition of being consistent is always acting or behaving in a similar way. Looking to be more consistent? State with what you intend to be consistent. You need to be clear on your principles so that you can refer back to them when making decisions. The principles will be statements that can be communicated and overtly demonstrated.

Here are some of the principles that I believe work well:. These principles have worked well for me, and I learned them the hard way — by making mistakes — or by listening to leaders for whom I had great respect. Whatever the set of principles at which you arrive, the key point is to stay consistent, even when it is uncomfortable to do so.

The value in being consistent is that people know what to expect, so they can act accordingly.