Performance Matters - Idea #26

Here's a piece of sound advice that saves time, enhances performance, avoids confusion, and protects integrity... Communicate what you know when you know it.

Too often leaders communicate what they have been exploring, thinking about, talking about, or hoping for. Their communication leans toward what could be rather than what is. Essentially they "put the cart in front of the horse".

The result is that leaders trade supposition for reality. They find themselves explaining, defending, and defusing that which may never come to be. Employees and colleagues find themselves refocused away from matters that matter. The inevitable conclusion is rumor, gossip, and resistance or unreasonable expectations.

In doing so they send mixed signals, create confusion, waste valuable time, fan emotions, and erode their own credibility.

The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. When matters are communicated before they have been decided upon leaders compromise themselves, the organization, and those who follow.

This advice becomes critical in times of change, transition, and restructuring when uncertainty, emotions, and insecurity runs high.

Bob

(c) Copyright 2008
performance Builders