We have all seen the person trying to be a leader who stands before their team when everyone knows there are major problems to face. He or she spends the entire time describing an alternate reality where everything is going great.
All you have done now is add one more big problem to the list and it’s fatal to your ability to lead. Your credibility is gone.
Real leaders face the facts. Genuine leaders tell the truth about the situation and challenges. It earns you respect and trust. It helps the team have the right mindset and apply the correct strategies and skills to the situation. The truth won’t hurt. Not being truthful will.
Trying to make yourself look good by ignoring painful realities will make you look bad. Of course, you can also identify the positives and assets we have. You will discuss a vision, strategies, culture, team, and alignment between objectives and operations which will allow us to prevail.
Happy talk isn’t leadership. Being brutally honest about the difficulties we have is the first step to success. It shows you trust them enough to be honest about our situation. Your team can handle the truth.
Given the chance, people will rise to the occasion and you will lead them through these challenges. You have to start with the truth.
#LeadershipLessonsWithDrSaviak
From the Teacher: Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak is a weekly column with the esteemed Joseph C. Saviak, Ph.D., J.D., M.A., M.S., Management Consulting & Leadership Training.
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