Lets be truthful…you make a pitch in front of the staff – the political staff just smile and give you – ‘great speech, wonderful focus…the after meeting smooch.

If you’re lucky you have a few people that may actually tell you the hard message. No one is buying what you’re pushing. The wise leader – doesn’t cut off their voice but listens closely at what their take is. It isn’t that they are 100% right. In fact they could be wrong – but they see it differently. The what and whys are important – in tough economic times – the ‘straight shooter’ can be invaluable. They’re a funny breed, they are less fearful, and if that is balanced with good sense they can be a very useful addition to your team. Think about this; it is counter intuitive to be honest to the boss and yet – it is the one thing he/she as a boss you would love to count on. The kiss ups are in full force, they hone their skills, they make it look like the way to operate. The downside – truth gets lost. People quickly forget how to communicate how they feel. Question this assessment; try this example. The next time you’re in front of the group – you shared your thoughts, the focus, etc. you sit back and ask…so what do you think? Ask the question to each team member. Really listen – are they just feeding back what you said, is their twist different, does it quickly go from asking for their opinion, to a feedback of what they heard. There is a difference.