Principled: 10 leadership practices for building trust

by Paul Browning

In the era of #metoo, ‘fake news,’ and ‘alternative facts,’ few would dispute that we face a global crisis around trust in the workplace and more broadly in society. When the CSIRO released its Australian National Outlook 2019, it identified trust as one of the future key challenges the nation faces in relation to governments, business, non-government organisations, and the media. It is less likely that a company will be able to innovate and remain competitive if trust is low or absent. Prominent Australian educator Paul Browning faced this situation when the school he led became embroiled in The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Principled draws on Browning’s first-hand experience of navigating an organisation through this highly public ethical crisis and outlines the challenges he faced as a leader. Bringing together evidence-based research and over 20 years of management experience, Paul Browning offers timely advice on the 10 key practices that can help executives build and develop skills to become more trustworthy leaders.

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2020

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book 10 stars. This should be compulsory reading for anyone in governance, management, or communications who has anything at all to do with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in NZ. After that, it should be compulsory reading for anyone in leadership wanting to improve their ability to build relational trust. I work in communications, specialising in internal comms/engagement alongside crisis communication. This book has the most highlights of any book in my Kindle library.

[Tracy Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking on a leadership role in an organisation with a damaged reputation following years of abuse of children by staff, is a brave step. The author, Paul Browning accepted this challenge and moved a school, central within a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, into an award-winning place of learning, being voted as Australian School of the year in 2019.

Principled is written from the perspective of the school principal put in charge of righting the wrongs of the past. This is a change management story set in a ‘brownfield site’ with cultural change as a core objective.

When Dr Browning arrived, he noted that a lack of trust pervaded across the organisation. He reflected that, ‘You don’t notice the value of trust until it is missing.’

Not surprisingly, the meaning of trust is explored at length in this highly readable book. This is a very personal story with honest and open reflections about rebuilding that trust and creating a world-class organisation.

Some of the observations about changing culture which I highlighted include:

‘Many people underestimate the power of the prevailing culture, particularly appointed leaders. The influence of a pernicious leadership style, especially following a long tenure, can mean that these unwritten norms can become ingrained. A culture of mistrust can be hard to identify and even harder to change.'

'It is very hard to act in a counter-cultural way, particularly when our innate desire to fit in is subconsciously encouraging us not to push back against the prevailing norms. No-one wants to be isolated from the group. Through a process of socialisation, many leaders find themselves enslaved by these often-unspoken rules; and become conditioned to accept the way things are done around here. Culture takes time to shift but with integrity and effort it can shift’.

A valuable book with practical advice for current and aspiring leaders and change management practitioners.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing post the Australian Royal Commission into the institutional abuse of children, Paul Browning based this work on his research of leadership within educational institutions, which were repeatedly at the centre of attention for child abuse. But abuse can occur in any setting and the leadership of CEO’s, principals, managers and ministry agents sets the culture of organisations. Being a leader, I found the principles that Browning explores profound and a positive contribution to the way my leadership contributes to positive work culture. Highly recommended.

[Pip Snort · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book thoughtful and helpful and am planning on implementing some of the ideas and strategies into my own leadership. I appreciated the humility that underscored some of the stories in this book, where it could have been self glorification.

[George Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for any leader who lacks self-awareness.

[Tamara Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honesty, trust, integrity,