The power of a "frank" conversation
Larry Whiteside Jr.
Board Director | Founder | CISO | CTO | Chief Strategy Officer | CISO Advisor | Servant Leader | Keynote Speaker
I have read many post and always thought about writing one myself. However, I was always concerned if the message I would send was repetitive of something someone else had already done because I know I personally am tired of reading the same message. But this particular topic is one that I think needs to be said even if its repetitive.
Let me start by saying I had to do some reading to understand why the term "frank" even existed. The term frank is derived from the medieval term Latin francus meaning "free". This is actually pretty enlightening given how the term has evolved. On to my thoughts.
The power of a frank conversation has been lost in most business circles. We tend to have them with our children. We tend to have them with our spouses. We even tend to have them with our friends on occasion. But how often do you have them in business? If you do have them in business, you probably tend to have them with subordinates. I believe being able to have a frank conversation in business is critically important to the overall success of people and the initiative they are trying to create/build/support. Additionally, I think its important to have these types of conversations with leadership.
In my current role as CSO I find many times that I have had to have this type of conversation with leadership. At times, its a little nerve racking to think about because you may be saying things that are not popular and are hard to swallow for some people. You may even find yourself stepping on peoples toes. However, doing so tactfully while still being completely honest and frank, gives an ability to ensure you have told a full story. It also ensures everyone is fully informed and your position is fully understood.
The goal of this "Frank" conversation should be to clearly state your position and to actually accomplish a goal. you can't go in without a goal. Have that goal in mind and drive towards it. Always remember, people like to be presented with solutions and not just problems. This being the case, try not to become argumentative. Its a slippery slope.
Now, could it put you in the crosshairs, yes. Could you be staking your career at that organization on the line, yes. However, your personal brand (something I will cover in another article) is also on the line. Our security community is not very big and I think our integrity is far more important than staying silent. Don't be afraid to have a frank conversation. I'd be interested in hearing from people who have had them or are willing to try having one.
Cyber Professional, Experienced IT leader, Business Innovator, Problem Solver
7 年Great article!! Especially encouraging considering the word origin. This is such an important topic in leadership. We have to be honest.
Providing organizations clarity into accounting fraud schemes and hidden mismanagement risk in financial reporting across ~90,000 companies, 100 countries and 170 exchanges
7 年Great post Larry I certainly hadn't taken the time to think of the origin. People pay you for you best counsel in these roles. Not the happy deck. Besides whoever got resources to achieve something by saying everything is fine. Look forward to reading your post on personal reputation security. Paul
Junior Financial Consultant
8 年Yes, it takes courage to speak truth to power. But most great changes throughout history, started from that very courage. That's also one of the differences between "managing the status quo", and "leading into the unknown". A current buzz word is "disruption". I think that disruption will definitely shatter the status quo. In business, it's the same thing. Courage, speak, disrupt, lead.
Global Sales Enablement Strategist | VP of Operations - Women at AWS
9 年Very thought provoking post. Justin, your recommendation on questioning in a manner that leads the listener(s) to your position is absolutely key. Not only does this practice demonstrate to the listener that you have a full understanding of the issue at hand, it also guides the listener to see the entire picture. For example, the listener may never consider the loss in operational hours and resulting loss in revenue when not adopting a new process if you do not ask a question that leads them to consider this. This ties into Dan's point on the necessity of quality relationships. You can only become a trusted adviser by demonstrating your own knowledge and understanding. Helping someone consider something they haven't thought of before is a great way to do just that. Being frank is more than just a means of communicating a controversial point or accomplishing a goal. When done tactfully, it is also a way to build quality relationships and that is truly invaluable.
Sr IT Consultant at AHEAD
9 年Very good topic and excellent practical points from Dan. Simply articulating a logical point or stance often does not spark the desired action. Asking questions that lead to answers which reinforce your point is key. For example, What is the customer experience if we are breached? How many operational hours do we lose by not adopting this process? Why do customers trust our ability to execute? Etc etc The answers should lead directly to your position, and you are not arguing or presenting your point, you are simply using the answers to interrupt a thought process and take action on a new perspective