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 Getting to the Truth
Truth, in many instances, is subjective. If we define truth as “what you believe”, then what is true for you may not necessarily be true for me. Often this is highlighted in business, where the executive have one view of the truth, management another, and staff something else.
One of the hardest parts of leadership is getting to the truth -- the truth of what your people believe, the truth of what motivates them, the truth of how the organization could be better.
As an example, you have promoted a top-notch technical person to a management position. Because this well educated person would not listen/act, the staff stopped bringing forward ideas. Soon the department was in disarray.
What’s happened? To straighten out this mess, you need to get to the truth of each and every person in that department. How can you do this? Good question. And that's the answer...ask good questions, and then really listen to the answers. Have real conversations with your people. Each person's life experiences, skills, and view points will bring up different truths about your organization, things that are true for the person you are talking to. This is the way to find what is working, what needs fixing, and what needs to go completely. Only by knowing what everyone thinks, feels and believes can you then lead effectively.
This isn't easy. Often, when people are asked what they think about something, they will respond with what they figure you want to hear. It's hard to share negative things with the boss, so often the boss doesn’t hear, at least not directly. How can you help your people feel free to approach you with difficult/negative concerns? After conversing with your people, try these questions on for size to examine your organization as a whole:
- Of the issues we’ve uncovered, which one will produce the greatest return (ROI) on the time/energy/dollars we allocate to addressing it?
- How would this impact our organization?
- Imagine that it’s six months from now and everything is as it was. What are the implications?
Remember, every person in your organization has a truth about the organization. Listen!
 Outward Bound for the Mind
“Wonderfully thought-provoking.” “Provocative.” “Pithy.” “Refreshing.” “Outward bound for the mind.” Are these the comments and descriptions you hear after a workshop or convention you’ve organized for your company? If not, what’s lacking?
Maybe you need to bring in some new blood, a presenter/facilitator who has been described with the exact words quoted above. Recently Dr. Leigh Quesnel presented sessions on critical thinking and change at a national forum in Vancouver. The audience response was overwhelmingly positive.
To bring Dr. Quesnel, or one of our other exceptional speakers, to your 2007 event, please contact us – SuccessSource@dimension11.com or 306-586-2315. We’ll have just the person to present an “outward bound for the mind” experience to your audience. |
Quotes This Month
“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”
~Galileo~
“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.”
~Demosthenes~
“Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.”
~Edward Murrow~
“Chase after the truth like all hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never touch its coattails.”
~Clarence Darrow~ |
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