Great leaders are not just willing to speak the truth, they’re willing to accept it. Comfortable or uncomfortable.
Truth can be a motherhood statement. Of course we all want it, don’t we ? After all, we’re honest, aren’t we?
There’s a reason that insecure leaders avoid uncomfortable truth – if you want to know the truth you have to be willing to accept it..
I made a mistake, I acted unfairly, I won’t achieve my target, I’m struggling with something. I’m not always right.
Unwillingness to accept the truth, because it’s not convenient, is a actually a form of dishonesty.
Dishonesty is one of those “shadow” issues which often gets covered up – pushed into the shadows – because it touches on deep social norms. Nobody wants to admit they’re dishonest. Other people maybe dishonest, but I’m not.
Yet to admit you’re sometimes dishonest is actually being honest.
Are you always honest?
“…if you want to know the truth you have to be willing to accept it..”
How often do you admit your team failed because you did something wrong, or is it always someone else’s fault?
Do you ever acknowledge that people were hurt by your decision, or do you always blame them for being change resistant?
Do you talk with your boss about failures or just talk about the things that are going well?
Do you talk with your team about their success as well as their failures?
Have you ever talked with your team about your own failures?
Why would you expect your team to be more honest with you than you are with them?
How will you solve a problem if you won’t admit it’s there?
Do you seek out uncomfortable news or avoid it?
Does your team?
Can you face the truth?
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“I might be wrong, but at least I’ve thought about it…”
When reflecting on whether one can honestly admit their mistakes to others, I realized it largely depends on whether the other person is willing to accept those mistakes. Accepting someone’s mistake often means taking on some responsibility for that failure. Assuming new responsibilities brings various concerns to mind, such as the impact on one’s family and personal life, mental and physical health, and financial situation. I believe that overcoming these worries, accepting the mistake, and working through it together builds trust. Moreover, it is desirable that both parties grow from the experience, which can help prevent future mistakes.
thank you for the wise reflection… it’s true that accountability comes at a cost. That’s your point though isn’t it? If I only want to accept positives but am not willing to take responsibility for mistakes, how can I expect others to trust me? Hiding mistakes doesn’t fix them, especially it doesn’t reduce the stress but can often make it worse..
Yes, I believe that is a crucial point. Accepting the negative aspects means committing to lead the resolution of the negative realities a business faces. I feel that this commitment can build trust.