Truth…

Earlier today I sat with one of my clients and reviewed our last team practice.  He had a firm grasp on the reins.  He knew exactly what he wanted to cover today.  I LOVE it when this happens.

He took me through his thoughts on how our last team practice had unfolded.  Not surprisingly, it had NOT gone according to his plan.  He had, initially, thought that he had not accomplished what he had set out to at the beginning of our practice.   Sooooo he took the initiative.  Do not miss this.  This is HUGE.

He did NOT wait.  He did not worry.  He did not grow more and more anxious.  He did not hope that he would somehow just simply feel better.  He chose to ACT.  This is always the recipe.

Leaders choose to ACT.

Sometimes it may be instinctive.  Sometimes it may be slowly.  The recipe will vary, but it will always end with ACTION.  Very cool.

He decided to SEEK feedback from his team following our practice.  He met one on one with a number of his team.  He asked them what they thought of our practice.  He listened.  He asked more questions.  He let their FEEDBACK sink into his system.  

Here’s what he discovered.  He discovered something surprising.  He discovered that the conflict he had felt during our team practice was what had made it so valuable.  He is beginning to embrace the deep change that comes with real integrity.  

The team practice had built TRUST.  His team is beginning to believe that they work with a leader that wants to hear the truth.  The truth may not be easy to hear.  The truth may not be what they are comfortable saying. The truth may be great news.  The truth may be bad news.  The truth may be a lot of things. Telling the truth is one of the clearest indicators of TRUST.  The TRUTH and TRUST go hand in hand.  

I’ve never had a better one on one session with this client.  I told him exactly that.  I told him the TRUTH. Today, I hugged my client.  Today I told him why this was our best session and why we are seeing his STRENGTH.  

Are you building a team that trusts you enough to tell you the TRUTH?

Tell me why I should believe you?

Are you mining for conflict?

Why or why not?