Transparency & honesty. Not too much to ask for. Or is it?
If keeping it real; being open, honest, & transparent were easy then everyone would do it, right?
Problem is, not everyone is open, honest, & transparent. Not even close.
Reality is that transparency & honesty are two of the most important character traits one can possess & are arguably the most important things one can practice.
Turns out these characteristics are far too rare. Rare enough that they are outwardly noticed (& oftentimes rewarded). If you’ve ever noticed how open somebody is, if you’ve ever been pleasantly surprised by someone’s transparency, or if you’ve ever found yourself appreciating an honest conversation with a co-worker then this resonates.
Have you ever “rewarded” a child, player, or employee for honesty? Ever punished or reprimanded that same child, player, or employee for not being honest? For many of us the answers to these questions would be “yes”. While we may want to take honesty for granted, the fact of the matter is that we cannot be fooled into this thinking.
Has someone ever caught you off guard, or have you ever been surprised by someone’s transparency? Ever found yourself in a position where consequences have had to be handed out for a lack of transparency?
Too many “leaders” will tell you what you want to hear to your face, but will actually act or speak differently when not in your presence.
It’s easier to appease an audience with what they want to hear versus what they need to hear.
Weak leaders will try to win your loyalty by being non-confrontational, & get out of tough conversations.
Too many people shy away from honest, transparent interactions for a variety of reasons:
- It’s uncomfortable!
- Lack of trust, belief, or confidence
- Fear of vulnerability, judgement, rejection, & negative consequences
- Unwillingness to face one’s own mistakes
- Attempting to protect their own image or ego
In our continued quest to be the best leader possible let’s dig into the importance, & value, of being transparent & honest with yourself, & with your people. All the time, no matter the circumstances.
Truths delivered
So many thought-leaders speak about the importance of honesty, integrity, & transparency in leadership. It’s a very simple thought process: without these traits one cannot lead.
The good news is that anyone can practice & live by these traits. Anytime. All the time. Further, even if one has been dishonest or untruthful in the past, there is always time & room to discard these traits & move forward in an open, truthful manner.
When open, honest, transparent communication is established the leader & their people will benefit in numerous ways:
- Conflict will be avoided
- Hurt feelings will be avoided
- Less anxiety & stress for all involved
- Emotional capacity will be multiplied
- Trust is gained!
Relationships (family, personal, professional) will all improve with honesty & transparency.
Get In Touch With JP
Prior to his time with Kashbox, JP spent 28 years as an NCAA Lacrosse Coach (22 years as a Head Coach). During that span, JP had the opportunity to coach with & against some of the top lacrosse coaches in the country.
Decisions become much clearer, & easier, when based on honesty & transparency. The decision-making process, for both leaders & their people, becomes simple & more efficient.
The top leaders deliver open, honest feedback to their teams & to their people on a consistent basis. They know what to expect from themselves because their decisions are based on honesty & integrity. Just as important, their people know what to expect. This is how trust is formed between a leader & their people.
Top leaders love to utilize “Why” into most of their interactions. Incorporating the “Why” behind decisions allows your people to be a true part of the journey, not just pawns in the process. This empowers people to be an active part of their team or organizational process.
The best leaders not only acknowledge that they don’t have the answers, they also embrace it. Admitting one doesn’t know it all can be a tough thing for some, but the best will use this to their advantage – not only to grow & learn themselves, but also to empower & build up their own people.
Transparent leaders don’t hide information, rather they disseminate information along the way. Why disclose information from your people throughout any process? Leaders who hold off on information sharing until the end of the process, or worse yet when something goes wrong, run the risk of losing the faith of their people.
Servant leaders keep it real. Their intent is to present a true, authentic self. Their intent is not to be fake, arrogant, or aloof. Authentic relationships are forged, & can now grow into great relationships.
The best leaders will establish trust in their relationships as a foundational building block. This core fundamental allows the transformational leader to build solid, trustworthy communication opening up the pathway to a collaborative, winning environment. These relationships & communications will build strong bonds that will strengthen your leadership in any family, community, or professional setting.
Mission accomplished
The world has turned into an open book for all to see. Not sure what I’m talking about, just take a minute to open up your favorite social media app, & observe what anyone is doing right this very minute. Won’t take you too long to find out about anyone’s daily trip to the grocery store or morning commute.
With all of this information right at our finger tips 24 hours a day it can be easy to get caught up in outside perceptions. When caught up in outside perceptions becoming a pretender can become an easy trap to fall into. As an aspiring leader, avoid this trap by filling your world with more direct, concise, simple practices. It’s WAY easier (& better) to live your life honestly. Rather than being consumed by outside perception, look internally & ask yourself if you are indeed living purposefully driven by integrity & honesty.
How to Read to Lead
In Today’s Fast-paced World, It’s Not Enough To Simply Have Information At Your Fingertips.
Uncover how to use the secret weapon of elite leaders.
An authentic, true self allows for greater performance. Less stress & anxiety is placed on outside forces that one cannot control. One can control their moral compass, their honesty, & their ability to communicate. Without fake intentions to worry about, the true, authentic leader can focus on what is truly important – their own leadership journey & what is best for their people.
The best leaders lead themselves first & foremost. Without internal self-leadership no leader can effectively lead others. Without truth, honesty, & integrity no leader can lead within. Internal honesty & self-feedback allows the leader the freedom to act exactly the same at home as in public. To act the same regardless if in front of people or in front of one’s self in the mirror. This freedom of action allows the best leadership qualities to emerge organically.
If you’ve ever told an untruth & subsequently felt unnerved then you understand the lack of confidence one has when attempting to disseminate an untruth. Confidence is built in truths. Gain & improve your confidence (btw, an important characteristic of great leaders) by dealing in honest, transparent interactions.
If you want to create a culture & atmosphere that resonates with your core values (which great leaders must do), begin by establishing a culture of open communication based on honesty, integrity, & transparency. The possibilities opened up in a culture like this are infinite!
The scoreboard takes care of itself…..
A true leader has a job to do.
& it’s not easy.
But it’s important. & needed. We need true leaders who are committed to serve, to help others. We need leaders who understand their job, understand their role in that job, & are willing to do what is needed to make that job happen.
A true leader organizes, disseminates, & follows through selflessly. A true leader sacrifices. A true leader learns, grows, & evolves along the way.
Honesty & transparency are vital to any leadership journey. They lead to an authentic leader who is true to themselves. A leader who is true to themselves can establish core values, a vision, & mission-driven principles that all can follow. That is seamless to follow. This is the type of leader who can overcome challenges, seize opportunities, & establish foundational integrity in others.
So, on today’s leadership mission, eyeball yourself in the mirror & speak the truth. From there the scoreboard will take care of itself…..
Along with his responsibilities as an NCAA Coach, JP has also been a small-business owner for the past 22 years. He founded & built a successful lacrosse camp business that, in addition to camps, expanded into travel teams, clinics, lessons, & consultations.
In both of his careers as an NCAA Coach & small-business owner, JP has helped to teach, coach, mentor, & develop hundreds of players & coaches.
