A Message from Our CEO – March 2024

“What is there so fearful as the expectation of bad tidings delayed?”

 --Mary Shelley

Just by following friends on Instagram and Facebook, we feel poorer and less fulfilled. New research reveals that we are not worthy. Our friends tend to post their best selves—the big spring break vacation to Portugal, the adorable dog. “They’re perfect,” you say, “…and all I did last spring was clean the garage.” But what you don’t see in your friend’s social media narrative is the aftermath of the Norovirus that they contracted while on the trip, or that their dog somehow caught the virus and is now sh*tting all over the oriental rug. And the husband has a gambling addiction. You get the picture.

It turns out that leaders in the workplace are doing the same thing– addicted to positive messaging in their communication, and not telling the whole story. A new report in HBR (featured below) points out that skirting over bad news and difficult topics actually creates more stress and uncertainty among employees. One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is focusing on how awesome the future looks without looking back on all the bumps in the road and sacrifices in the past that led to the success and the challenges ahead… warts and all.

Another faux pas is skipping the non-update update. A 2023 Gallup survey showed that U.S. employees are feeling increasingly left out of the loop by their leaders and managers. When there are no updates, the worst thing you can do is stay silent. Let people know there are no updates but let them know what you are thinking about. Invite them into your thought process and always solicit feedback. Ed Koch was a New York City Mayor who was known for saying to anyone who would listen, “How am I doing?”

Finally, it’s okay to deliver bad news. Be honest. Be transparent. In the long run, that will get you more followers than Happy Bullshit.

Be. Real. Pleeeze.

Warren