Contribution Expands Trust

Cathie Leimbach • August 30, 2022

“Few things build trust quicker than actual results,” says David Horsager. “At the end of the day, people need to see outcomes. You can have compassion and character, but without the results you promised, people won’t trust you. Be a contributor who delivers real results.”

People trust those who make a difference for the organization. When anyone focuses on achieving stated mission and goals, they are making a meaningful contribution. This includes doing their own work well and supporting others to be successful.

Let’s look at four characteristics which many highly-rated contributors have in common.


1 - Ability to Plan and Organize Their Work

Contributors:

  • Manage their time and others’ time well
  • Handle multiple demands and deadlines
  • Monitor their progress without much oversight

 

2 - Strong Interpersonal Communication

Contributors:

  • Articulate their thoughts clearly
  • Ensure they are understood and understand others
  • Share helpful information with others

 

3 - Effective at Collaboration

Contributors:

  • Maintain cooperative work relationships with others
  • Assist others in the completion of their tasks to support group goals
  • Collaborate during meetings and in informal settings

 

4 - Ability to Deliver Consistent Results

Contributors:

  • Are dependable
  • Work on the right tasks to ensure they achieve priority results
  • Take personal responsibility for achieving outcomes


Interpersonal skills as well as effectively planning and completing work are essential characteristics of top contributors. Those who develop these skills and regularly focus on fulfilling their responsibilities will be acknowledged as valuable contributors. In turn, they will be trusted and respected by their colleagues.

Which of these four important characteristics are strengths for you? Which could be your next growth area? What is one change you could make in these areas to increase your workplace contribution, increasing the level of trust others have in you? 

The Futility of Leadership Perfection

By Cathie Leimbach • May 26, 2026
Many leaders quietly carry the pressure that they are supposed to have every answer. Be decisive. Stay strong. Never show uncertainty. Keep pushing forward no matter what. The problem is that approach often creates distance inside organizations instead of trust. In The Imperfect CEO , which was released on May 19, Jim Brown challenges the idea that leadership effectiveness comes from appearing flawless. Instead, he makes the case that healthy organizations are built by leaders willing to lead with clarity, humility, accountability, and honesty. Larry Siff, CEO of Neptune Advisors and C-Level Community, shared this perspective: “In The Imperfect CEO , Jim Brown doesn’t shy away from the messy reality of being a real person in charge, yet he shows how that honesty becomes a source of organizational health.” Edna Lopez, former Senior Executive at Gateway and Amway, wrote: “In every organization I've led, one truth has been constant: culture determines whether strategy ever sees daylight. The Imperfect CEO gets to the heart of that reality.” That connection between leadership and culture is exactly why the ideas in this book matter. In Conversational Management, we often see organizations struggle , not because leaders lack intelligence or effort, but because communication patterns quietly create confusion, defensiveness, disengagement, or fear. The healthiest organizations usually are not led by leaders who are aiming for perfection. They are led by leaders who know perfection is elusive. They acknowledge their limitations and the benefits of team collaboration. They humbly create honest conversations, clear expectations, accountability, and trust — even when it feels uncomfortable.  The wait is over for a down-to-earth book that dares to reveal common leadership imperfections and provides support for enhancing leadership impact! The Imperfect CEO is now available!

The Leadership Problem Most Companies Don’t Address

By Cathie Leimbach • May 19, 2026
Many organizations assume their biggest challenges are rapidly changing technology, customer retention, and employee initiative. But quite often, the root cause is people leadership problems. That’s one reason The Imperfect CEO by Jim Brown is so timely. Releasing today, May 19, the book explores how leaders build healthier organizations not by pretending to have all the answers, but by creating cultures grounded in trust, clarity, accountability, and meaningful conversations. Brian Besanceney, Chair, Board of Orlando Health, Inc., described the book this way: “Through vivid stories, real-world examples, and a model grounded in collaborative culture, Jim Brown gives leaders permission to wrestle honestly with the generational divides, misaligned targets, and cultural fractures that can too often sabotage high-potential organizations.” Greg Apple, CEO of Amgine.ai, connected the book to leadership beyond business alone: “In a fast-moving company, culture is everything. Jim Brown’s principles have helped our team lead with greater clarity and alignment. The Imperfect CEO distills those lessons brilliantly. Every leader should read it.” What stands out to me is how closely this book aligns with the principles behind Conversational Management. Healthy cultures are rarely built through policies alone. They are built through the quality of everyday leadership conversations — how expectations are clarified, how accountability is handled, how feedback is delivered, and how trust is strengthened over time. That’s why leadership development cannot stay theoretical. Culture changes conversation by conversation.  The Imperfect CEO is an easy-to-read business fable that illustrates common people leadership challenges and provides suggestions for overcoming them. Order your copy today and start building healthier leadership conversations inside your organization.