Page 220 - Fearless Leadership

Talking Straight Responsibly 207

Talking Straight Responsibly
Being emotionally honest and communicating responsibly as soon
as you recognize there is an unresolved issue.

Be Willing to Be Uncomfortable
Your discomfort is not an acceptable excuse for avoiding what needs
to be said. Our mission is not to eliminate your discomfort but to increase
your comfort with being uncomfortable. This is another marker of fear-
less leadership—the ability to persevere even when a situation is unpleas-
ant or disquieting. At all times you must remember that fearless leadership
is not the absence of fear or discomfort; it is doing what needs to be done
in spite of these feelings.
Most leaders imply or soften a message, drop hints, or demonstrate their
displeasure in countless small ways. Their hope is that others will read
between the lines and get the real message so they will not have to deal
with it. If you are indirect or roundabout in your communication, you are
giving others the power to interpret your message and infer meaning. You
will be extremely dissatisfied with how people fill in the blanks. While you
may be more comfortable using indirect or implied communication, oth-
ers will reduce their uncertainty and anxiety by making up their own
meaning, and innumerable breakdowns will follow.
When you leave communication to chance, you are saying “I am not
accountable for the accuracy, precision, and impact of my message.”
People need to know where you stand and how you feel. Err on the side
of overcommunicating and be known as a leader who courageously, and
swiftly, addresses any issue or concern.

The question that must be answered is: “Are you willing to talk straight
responsibly even when you are uncomfortable?”

Be Emotionally Honest

Leaders who talk straight responsibly leave nothing to interpretation. They
know that saying something or writing it in an e-mail does not mean that
others heard or understood their message. You must act as the responsi-