The Three T’s of True North Leaders: Truth, Transparency, and Trust

In working with many authentic leaders, I’ve found that the most enduring and impactful ones embody three essential qualities: Truth, Transparency, and Trust. These traits aren’t optional; they’re foundational to building authentic relationships and leading with purpose.

To become a True North Leader, you must first discover your True North, your inner compass rooted in your values and life story. From there, you can lead with the 3 T’s that define how great leaders inspire others and build lasting credibility.

Truth

Integrity, telling the whole truth, is the cornerstone of leadership. Without it, there’s no foundation for trust or authentic connection. I often told my team at Medtronic, “Integrity isn’t just not lying, it’s telling the whole story, even the hard parts.” Authentic leaders surround themselves with truth tellers and embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly. As Jamie Dimon once said, if only one person on your team tells you the truth, the rest may not belong there.

Transparency

Gone are the days when leaders hoarded information at the top. Today’s most effective leaders operate in open, horizontal environments where everyone sees the full picture. Anne Mulcahy’s shock at the lack of awareness within Xerox when she became COO in 2000 is a powerful reminder of what happens when information is hidden. At Medtronic, we encouraged surfacing bad news early, so we could assign the best people to solve problems together. Transparency empowers people and builds alignment.

Trust

Truth and transparency lead to trust, the currency of great leadership. Trust is earned not by proclamations but by presence and action. Consider the difference between Mark Zuckerberg’s silence during the Cambridge Analytica scandal and Hubert Joly’s bold decision to personally show up in Best Buy stores and match online prices. Joly rebuilt trust with both employees and customers because he was willing to lead from the front. If you don’t show up when it matters most, people won’t trust you.

In these uncertain times, it’s tempting for leaders to retreat or compromise. But now more than ever, we need leaders anchored in truth, guided by transparency, and trusted by those they serve. Master the 3 T’s, and you’ll not only lead with authenticity, you’ll inspire others to find and follow their True North.

All the best,

Bill George