Shifting Perspectives
The most underrated yet a powerful action every leader needs to consider during times of change is to invite bad news.
Yes, you read it right. If you are a leader navigating the ambiguity and complexity of change, I encourage you to shift your perspective and invite the bad news. Why? By inviting the bad news, you will:
Identify problems and challenges early on: This allows you to take prompt actions for intervention and resolution before issues escalate.
Make informed decisions: Access to negative feedback and bad news provides you with a more comprehensive understanding of potential obstacles, risks, and areas needing improvement.
Build engagement and trust: Employees feel valued and trusted when their input, even if it's negative, is welcomed by leadership. This helps you foster a culture of transparency, trust, and psychological safety within your team.
Instill a culture of continuous improvement: When you help employees feel comfortable sharing concerns or pointing out flaws, you open the door to innovative solutions and process enhancements that can drive long-term success and resilience in the face of change.
Develop resilience and adaptability: By proactively addressing issues as they arise, you can help develop resilience within your team and foster an adaptive mindset.
So, don’t shoot the messengers. Don’t settle for your team telling you what they think you want to hear. Invite bad news and demonstrate humility, courage, and a commitment to learning and growth.
Your team will respect you for that.
*Originally posted on LInkedIn under the title “The Most Underrated yet A Powerful Action Every Leader Needs to Consider During Times of Change”. The title has been updated for this blog, thanks to an insightful comment from my fellow coach, Allison Augustyn.
