Lessons in IT Transformation: Technology Expert to Business Leader

Honesty and Transparency

Many leaders are guilty of the next sin even though they are well intentioned. Instead of honestly sharing their concerns, they try to sugarcoat the situation. Things aren't really that bad. They are bound to get better. It's only a temporary blip. This is one of the most delicate balancing acts a leader will ever have to navigate. On the one hand, a leader needs to be optimistic, keep the team calm, and articulate the expectation that things will turn around and the team will succeed. On the other hand, a leader also must be honest. Lying about your own concerns is dishonest, and people can see right through you. However, panicking and yelling “fire” is not the answer, either! Let me share an example from my own experience.

When I took my current job I walked into what I can only describe as the most dysfunctional organization I had ever seen. Nothing was working. Our clients thought we were idiots. Client satisfaction was terrible. Projects routinely came in late, over budget, and under value. The team had no credibility. My office had no relationships with the leadership of the organization. All in all, it was quite a mess! For me to tell everyone that things were fine and that everything was great would have been a lie and stupidity on my part. However, running out of the building screaming wasn't going to help matters! I simply made it a point to build a reputation of being someone who was honest, constructive, and transparent. Where there were problems, ...