NEVER TRUST A LEADER WHO HIDES

Reportability is the quality of being reportable. It is a willingness to provide sufficient information that brings others into an accurate understanding of the matters at hand. 

Trust in an organization cannot be established without reportability. It helps prevent the abuse of authority while exposing those leaders who do abuse.  This flows from biblical principles. John 3:19-21 reminds us, “…this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen..."  

Sadly, the natural condition of fallen man is to conceal his activities so he can act selfishly. But those who desire to rise above their corrupt human nature will “come to the light.” That is, they will welcome systems of reportability that shine the light on their activity which encourage their own honesty and promote a culture of integrity.  

Unfortunately, many leaders today are threatened by reportability and the transparency it creates. Insecure leaders take offense and say, “Don’t you trust me?” But they fail to understand several important principles of reportability.  

First, leaders who “report,” demonstrate their own credibility. The more one resists transparency, the more others become convinced that this leader must be examined and closely scrutinized. By contrast, the more a leader is willing to report, the more others become convinced of his integrity and trust him to do the right thing without having to report it. 

Second, reportability is not meant to protect the money from the leader, it is meant to protect the leader from the money. In other words, reportability provides a defense against accusations of impropriety.  

Third, as leaders create a culture of transparency through their reportability, the more likely people will be to invest in their organization. Those who encourage transparency will be regarded as healthy and credible. People will trust that organization and become willing to participate in it and invest in it personally.  

Fourth, some leaders feel they are too small to develop structures of reportability. They say, “I only receive a few dollars each week, or small amount of schillings, why should I bother with such elaborate systems of accountability?” Jesus said if you are faithful in little, you will become ruler over much. (Matt. 25:23)  In other words, if you can’t be faithful with the few dollars you have, why should you be trusted with many dollars?  
 
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