Get Real
“Great leadership does not mean running away from reality. Sometimes the hard truths might just demoralize the company, but at other times sharing difficulties can inspire people to take action that will make the situation better.” ~ John Kotter
Don’t hide problems from your team. If there are concerns, issues, setbacks, etc., leaders should find appropriate ways to communicate about them when possible.
Emphasize working toward a solution, rather than dwelling on the unfairness of the problem or venting your own negative emotions. Focus on how the team will be able to get through it. Encourage them to come to you with additional ideas that might help. Discuss how your team will adjust to the changes, e.g., “While Jeff is dealing with this, we’re going to cover his part of the project by…”
Be aware that wild speculation will often occur in the absence of reliable information. If there are limits to what you can say to the team (for example, if a senior executive has a serious medical or legal issue), explain that you are constrained from saying more, but share what you can. Sometimes letting people know who is “inside” can reassure them: “Pat, Alex, and I are having another call about it today. We’re staying updated.” or “HR is asking us not to discuss this issue until everything is officially resolved.” If you have built a long-term relationship of mutual respect and trust with your team members, they will respect and trust your ability to handle the issue.
People left out of the communication loop will often assume the worst. People who are calmly and respectfully given the truth will often rise to help resolve the problems.
(quote source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2013/10/09/20-leadership-quotes-to-make-you-laugh/)
(image generated by Midjourney)