Truth in Leadership!!!!!

Most people consider themselves to be honest. I believe this is true. I believe that the vast majority of people try to be. I don’t believe that all of them understand what it really means.

They say the truth can sometimes be hard to hear. The fact is that the truth can be even harder to say. We have all, at one time or another, had conversations with our superiors. Some of the conversations were open and honest. Some of them were not. Try to remember both scenarios. How did you feel when you knew they were not being truthful with you? What did you think of them when they were not telling you everything? To say that you lost some respect for them is probably an understatement. Try now to imagine an open and honest dialogue. How did that make you feel? Even if the dialogue included things that were painful to hear, you respected them for saying it.

Guess what? Your people know when you are not being open and honest with them too! They know when you are not telling them the truth. They know if you are capable of having difficult conversations. If you feel that your people have little respect for you this is a good place to self evaluate.

Leaders are never afraid of having difficult conversations. They say what needs to be said. They respect their people and it shows. Great leaders understand that people can handle the truth. The most basic element of respect is honesty. Without it nothing else you do will mean anything.

Thanks
Frosty



"Trust is the essence of leadership." --Colin Powell