“It’s not personal . . . It’s strictly business.” Michael Corleone’s infamous line from the Godfather is often repeated in executive suites. It’s usually meant as a way for angry executives to rationalize their inappropriate behavior. However, when executives use this excuse, they risk forfeiting their ability to lead.

Novelist George McDonald wrote, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” And although he was no scholar in the business of healthcare, his words ring as true in the boardroom as they did in the Scottish hills of his homeland.