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The First One To The Truth

How important is truth to leadership?

Radical, no holds barred, no little-white lies, no spinning truth. . Truth that is presented with the facts and feelings exposed. Numbers that tell the complete story. Stories that don't shade the numbers. Trusting in your people, telling them what exactly is going on in your organization and where you think you are headed will gain you so much equity and trust in itself that it will more than out shine any risk you see associated with it.

Leadership without a hidden agenda is what people expect. How are you at delivering it?

Your team members want the truth. They want to know what you're thinking, what you're planning, and what you have as a strategy for your organization. Have you told them?

When leaders hide the truth, they get into trouble. When leaders spin the truth, they delude themselves far longer than they ever can fool anyone else.

What is your approach as a leader to learning, understanding, and sharing the truth?

It's critical. There's no ducking it. The truth will always bubble to the top anyway, as I've shared before. Embrace the facts and talk them thru. You may find disagreement. You may find misunderstanding. You may find conflict. But finding the truth and sharing it is key.

The first one to the truth wins.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

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