Episode 37 - Transparent Leadership with Ian Daley
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Leading Through Crisis has been selected as one of the Top 20 Canadian Leadership Podcasts on the web! Thanks for being a part of this journey with me and for all of your support. It is such a gift to be able to have and share these conversations each month.
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I remember how much I hated the use of the word transparency when I used to work in a corporate environment. It always blew my mind how the word was thrown around and how often the company (and the leaders therein) would talk about being transparent, despite the fact that very few of the people who worked there would have used that word to describe their experience.
In the work I’ve done with leaders in different industries, I find I often get pushback when I talk about the importance of transparency and why it will benefit them and the folks around them as well. Generally speaking, I’m met with things like:
“But we both know not everyone can handle this information…”
“What happens if they misunderstand me?”
“What if something ends up changing?”
“This seems like it’s above their paygrade…”
Or, one of many similar responses.
I fully appreciate that there are absolutely things leaders can’t openly share for legal reasons. And, I would never encourage leaders to step over that line.
However, most of the things that leaders could share don’t fall into that category. And, yet, leaders still don’t share openly or act transparently. Whether they are afraid of making a mistake, appearing weak or indecisive, or they don’t know how people will react, many leaders overcorrect and share nowhere near enough for people to feel safe and understood inside their roles and the organization.
The truth is that it is always better for people to have more information, than less information. It helps everyone, no matter where they are in the organization, to make better decisions and feel like they are valued and understood. I think it’s important for leaders to tailor their messages appropriately--don’t get me wrong--but that additional layer of planning should never prevent anyone from sharing or not being transparent about the key things people make assumptions about: who, what, where, when, why and how.
My guest on the podcast this week is Ian Daley, the founder of Daley & Company, who is driven to develop the next generation of high-caliber leaders. In our conversation, we talk about all things leadership. But, we really hone in on the importance of transparency, vulnerability, and knowing when and where to share information.
I’d encourage you to listen to our conversation, see if you agree and if there are any helpful tips or tools you pick up along the way.
It is worth getting good at this (sitting with the discomfort, resisting the urge to be perfect, building that relationship capital), as it serves us all in the long run.
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To learn more about Ian Daley you can find him online at https://daley.company/. As well as on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-daley-6a992b17/), Facebook (Daley Co.), and Twitter (@IanDaley1).