Mastering Transparency in Leadership: Balancing Need-to-Know and Right-to-Know

"Is there a need for this person to know what I'm about to share? And do they have a right to know?"

– Angelica Paltan, Nontraditional HR Business Partner & Founder, A New Wave of HR

Oh Snap! I felt like I had stubbed my toes again. Facepalm emoji. Belly flop. I had once again overshared, and a member of my team walked out of a meeting. I hadn't reflected on my audience for this meeting and blurted out information that scared them.

One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn as a leader (and now as a business owner) is discerning when and what to share. There is a difference between being transparent and sharing inappropriate information that undercuts your ability to lead, motivate, and inspire. I've learned the hard way how quickly clients can walk away when you share too much theory or provide too many details.

Leaders must discern when to be fully transparent and when to adopt a 'translucent' approach, sharing only the necessary information. This balance is crucial in maintaining trust without overwhelming your stakeholders.

August Roundtable Recap

During our August #PeopleBeforeStrategy roundtable, my two incredible guest speakers, Angelica Patlán, M.S., PHR, and Dr. Bonnie Wilson of CEO, Xceeding the Mark Executive Coaching & Consulting, shared their perspectives on transparency in leadership.

Angelica emphasized the importance of understanding your audience's need and right to know. Tailoring your message to different stakeholders ensures clarity and relevance, bolstering your credibility.

Dr. Bonnie highlighted the power of authenticity. Sharing your journey, including struggles and triumphs, can foster a deeper connection with your team. However, it's essential to gauge the appropriateness of your disclosures based on the context and your comfort level.

Defining Transparency in Your Leadership

Every workplace and each leader should define what 'transparent' means. Regularly reflecting on your communication strategies can help you refine your approach. Consider what worked, what didn't, and how you can improve. This continuous cycle of evaluation and adjustment is key to effective leadership.? Reflecting on your approach before you find yourself in a heated debate or tricky team meeting can help you navigate situations more effectively.

Quick Scenario based on my real-world startup experience:

Consider a leader who transparently dumped the company's financial challenges on the team and blamed them. While the intent was to foster openness, it led to panic and decreased morale. By contrast, a leader who shared the pertinent financial information but coupled it with a clear action plan and support for the team managed to maintain trust and morale.

Leadership Challenge: Transparency in Action

Inspired by our roundtable conversation, I would like to offer a challenge.

Create a 'Transparent' Communication Plan:

This plan should define what transparency means within your specific context, identify key stakeholders, and outline how you will practice 'transparency' in various scenarios (e.g., performance reviews, project updates, and company changes). Include examples of both 'transparent' and 'translucent' communication.

Steps:

1. Define Transparency and Translucency: Within the context of your team or organization, what do these terms mean?
2. Identify Key Stakeholders: Tailor transparency practices to meet their needs.
3. Develop a Practical Communication Plan: Include examples of transparent and translucent communication.
4. Reflect and Adjust: Continuously reflect on the impact of your communication plan and make necessary adjustments.

Resources Needed:

• Access to company policies and any existing communication guidelines. Your company values, vision, and mission could guide your approach, and if they are at odds, they might need to be reviewed and updated.
• Input from team members or colleagues on their perspectives regarding transparency where relevant.
• Tools for creating and capturing the communication plan (e.g., Google Doc, presentation software). I use a Notion template to keep me on track with client conversations.

Join the Conversation

Feel free to reach out if you need any support building your 'transparent' communication plan. If you want to join actionable conversations like this, I invite you to join the next #PeopleBeforeStrategy Roundtable in October. Even if you can't join live, register here to secure your spot and get the recording.

Next month (September), we are taking a Roundtable break, and I'm launching my digital leadership shop!