Management : Cut the Crap - Tell it Like it is

I'm only into organizations for a number of weeks before I start hearing my favourite management practice being played back to me - 'brutal honesty'. It usually comes back in the form - "Jim, I know you're a big fan of brutal honesty, so I'm thinking it's OK if I give you my thoughts on...". Yes, yes and yes. I want to know. Tell me. Don't sugar coat it.

Here's why every manager should be practicing and encouraging brutal honesty:

• it's a huge time saver
• it elminates confusion
• it eliminates politics
• it makes the business better
• it keeps you absolutely in the loop
• people would rather hear the truth

Here's why the majority of managers have difficulty inititially adapting a brutally honest approach to management:

• it's not how we're trained to manage or communicate in organizations
• it requires trust
• it means tuning down the ego
• it means you're going to hear bad news
• it means you're going to deliver bad news
• it's not easy to stop lying or covering up

Here's why those who make the transition to brutal honesty can never go back:

• brutal honesty is hugely liberating

That's right. Once a manager is proficient at telling the truth to those around them the only pressure they will feel is the pressure on the business - not on personal interactions. Now that's focusing on what matters.

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