Is HONESTY the best policy? Of course it is. But, is it always appropriate? Maybe not.
As The Boss, you’ll have to be honest with people. Sometimes it can be tough. Maybe if we separate the word TRUTH out from HONESTY, we’ll figure out a better way to have tough conversations.
First of all, what is TRUTH? It is the one thing that we can be absolutely certain of. It’s real. It’s tangible. It’s necessary.
- The truth is, your performance sucks.
- The truth is, you look fat in those yoga pants.
- The truth is, everyone in this room is a lot smarter than you are.
Those are examples of uncomfortable, but probably true TRUTHs. And, if you say them, you’re being brutally HONEST.
But, being HONEST in telling those TRUTHs can be inappropriate.
As The Boss, be careful how your message is coming across.
Tell the TRUTH.
But, use some empathy when telling that TRUTH. After all, the way that message comes out will impact the way that same message is received. If you use empathy and deliver that TRUTH in a constructive way, there is a better chance that performance or appearance will change. If not, you at a minimum risk conflict and worst case scenario is that resentment grows and behavior won’t change.
TRUTH is absolutely important, but brutal HONESTY may not be the best policy. Think about that this week as you communicate your standards to your team.
After all…do you want to hear TRUTH about your performance as The Boss? HONESTLY? If so, just remember, not everyone is wired like you. Use some empathy and you might get it in return.
