Tom Lemanski's

Leadership Breakthroughs

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Tom Lemanski's

Leadership Breakthroughs

Ideas for Leaders Who Inspire

Tom Lemanski

Getting the REAL Story

Candor Sign

When it comes to effective decision making, there’s no substitute for being informed.  At the same time, we’re living in the information age.  We’re more likely to have too much data than too little.  What’s a leader to do to discover what’s really going on?  Here’s 8 recommendations including a simple magic word.

Making Informed Decisions

Information Quantity vs. Information Quality

As you gather information directly from people both inside and outside of your organization,  how can you improve the information’s quality? 

Truth vs. Candor

When making important decisions, which is more valuable; truth or candor?  What you hear may be factual and honest.  But truth can be told with a lot left unsaid.  People can be honest and truthful while not being forthcoming.  

Quality input needs to go beyond honesty.  Getting to the real story requires candor.  

Candor Sign

Your Pursuit of Candor

Getting the real story is an essential leadership skill. Do you have what it takes?

Eight Attributes for Getting the Real Story

  1. Approachability and rapport
  2. Genuine Curiosity (read more)
  3. Active, empathetic listening skills  (read more) 
  4. A Non-Judgmental Approach
  5. Root Cause Analysis  (asking WHY 5 times –  more) 
  6. Messenger Protection; Never kill or diminish those who are forthcoming!
  7. An attitude of gratitude  (read more)
  8. Use of the magic word for enabling candor

The Magic Word for Gaining Candor

Your parents were correct about using magic words.  Please and Thank You are always useful.  But there’s another word that works well for getting to the real story when used properly. 

I recommend learning to insert some form of the word “real” into your ask.  Here are some examples.

  • “What’s the real story?”
  • “What’s really happening here?”
  • “How do you really feel?”
  • “What’s the real challenge?”
  • Challenge initial responses with the one word question; “Really?”  (Intonation is critical with this one) 

It really can work like magic.  Just understand that the real magic happens when those other seven attributes (above) are in place.  

Real magic2

The Magic Word for gaining candor

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