New leader organizations have big goals and high standards. People are expected to achieve the goals and live by the standards. People grow in organizations where honesty is valued and where integrity and truth-telling are expected and rewarded. The new leader selects talented people, develops them quickly, knows who the high and low performers are, retains the high performers, and removes low performers quickly and fairly. This accountability is healthy.
New leaders are authentic and courageous.
Authentic leaders show their humanity, admit their mistakes, ask for help, and don't act like they know what they are doing when, in fact, they haven't a clue. Trust comes from the vulnerability found in authentic relationships. The leader understands that the enterprise exists to provide meaningful work and opportunities to learn and grow for employees as well as to provide a product or service for customers and financial returns for investors. Followers respond to leaders they perceive as servants who care. They do not respond to those they perceive as villains out only for themselves.