President Richard Nixon.

Happy Friday!

On this day, November 17, 1973, a pivotal moment unfolded in American history as President Richard Nixon uttered the now-infamous words, “I’m not a crook,” during a televised press conference. This statement marked a critical juncture in the Watergate scandal, a series of events that would ultimately reshape the political landscape and redefine public trust in the highest echelons of government. President Nixon’s declaration was made in response to allegations surrounding the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex. The Watergate scandal stands as a watershed moment in American politics, representing a seismic shift in public perception of presidential authority and ethical conduct. Nixon later resigned on August 8, 1974, when it became evident that he no longer had a strong enough political base in Congress to justify continuing. He was the 37^th president in his second term and the only president to resign from office.

A few years after resigning, Nixon gave an interview to a British talk-show host, which was watched by 45 million viewers. “Yep, I let the American people down and have to carry that burden with me for the rest of my life.” While President Nixon may not have been directly involved in the Watergate break-in, he did take aggressive steps to cover up the crimes committed and used government agencies to obstruct the investigation and impede the truth. In the world of business and organisational leadership, the lessons from the Watergate scandal are equally relevant. Just as leaders in the political realm must be accountable to the public, business leaders must be accountable to their stakeholders, employees, and customers. Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership, and once it is compromised, rebuilding it becomes an arduous task. Trust Is the Foundation of Effective Leadership.

“Trust is the foundation of effective leadership. Transparency and honesty must be non-negotiable, unethical actions may achieve short-term gains but destroy legitimacy and support long-term”

To be an effective change agent and influence employees within the organisation, they must become trusted advisers. Trust is an important factor of influence, and without it, you will neither change people nor be able to sell change to the organisation. When the change agents introduce themselves, employees will ask themselves one key question: “Can I trust you?”

Have a fantastic weekend with the ones you love and care for, enjoy some fresh air, exercise, eat, drink and be happy.

Further Reading: Change Management Behaviour: Leadership of Change Volume 6

Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change^®. He advises CEOs on how to prepare and align their corporate leadership teams to successfully lead their organisation's change.

For further reading please visit our websites: https://www.a2b.consulting  https://www.peterfgallagher.com Amazon.com: Peter F Gallagher: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Leadership of Change® Body of Knowledge Volumes: Change Management Body of Knowledge (CMBoK) Books: Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, A, B, & C available on both Amazon and Google Play:

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 1 - Change Management Fables

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 2 - Change Management Pocket Guide

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 3 - Change Management Handbook

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 4 - Change Management Leadership

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 5 - Change Management Adoption

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 6 - Change Management Behaviour

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 7 - Change Management Sponsorship

~ Leadership of Change® Volume A - Change Management Gamification - Leadership

~ Leadership of Change® Volume B - Change Management Gamification - Adoption

Coming soon:

~ Leadership of Change® Volume C - Change Management Gamification - Behaviour

~ Leadership of Change® Volume D - Change Management Gamification - Sponsorship

~ Leadership of Change® Volume E - Change Management Gamification - Leadership Teams

By Peter F Gallagher

Keywords: Leadership, Change Management, Business Strategy