The Value of Candor

This week I reread "Candor, Criticism, and Teamwork," by Keith Ferrazzi in the Harvard Business Review.  Candor and criticism can often be difficult for those of us in Minnesota, who are both blessed and plagued with "Minnesota Nice." This author makes a strong case for the value of candor and criticism in building strong teams and getting to the best solution.  And I'll add a promotion for diplomacy:  if you are going to express yourself with candor, especially if it criticism, you can take some of the sting out of it by speaking with diplomacy.  Just be sure that you are not so diplomatic that your message gets lost.

Mr. Ferrazzi offers some concrete suggestions for how to encourage candor and criticism, and I'll let you read those in his article.  My favorite quote comes at the end, though, and I will repeat that here:

True collaboration is impossible when people don’t trust one another to speak with candor. Solving problems requires that team members be unafraid to ask questions or propose wrong answers. Risk management is another area that relies almost completely on people’s admitting their mistakes. It takes work to create a candid environment supported by respectful, honest relationships, but it’s a challenge every leader should embrace. 

We all want to do a great job, but what I learned from this article is that you can't do your best, and your team can't do its best, if you aren't willing to express yourself with candor.  Practice your candor with diplomacy and you will enhance your leadership skills.