Tough Questions need Honest Answers

You can read it on my blog: https://bloggershiv.com/tough-questions-need-honest-answers/

I must confess I have a high level of anxiety these days. Some sleepless nights too…

These are tough times and I can see some of my team members struggle which is not nice. Additionally, I am facing a lot of tough questions from all around. Most often than not, the first reaction to a tough question is to either divert it or duck it. However, I have come to realize it may not be the best policy specially in a crisis and I will prove it to you.

For example, the other day almost immediately after one of the long con calls with my team, I got a call from one of my subordinates who was on the call and relatively silent. He was concerned about his own team amidst the news of job loses all around. In addition to that he told me about his own financial situation with home and other EMIs as a monthly expense. He was continuously probing me to know what was on my mind and what will be the fate of everyone on the team.

My initial reaction was to duck the question, divert the subject by asking some other questions. However, I soon realized it may not be the best policy right now. I thought of the pain which most people are going through in this period of health and financial instability and there is no point in adding misery by being dishonest or fuzzy on the subject. I also thought that there is not point in being defensive and take the question personally. After all, as Leaders we need to take a few tough decisions and own up to them.

Finally, I did come up with as clear answers as were possible. I made sure to explain all the answers through building scenarios on which we were working and what was the best possible action in everyone’s interest. I think the manager was a bit taken aback by the frank explanation at first but really appreciated the honesty and the details provided to him. He also got the answer to Why we were going to do what we were planning and also was grateful for the empathy shown throughout.

My conclusion – You will face a lot of tough questions in the current scenario or are facing them already. First of all, Empathize. Remember, you are better off than most others. Then be honest with your answers. The worst thing you can do to your team is being diplomatic or dishonest with them specially during a crisis like this.

Tough times make true Leaders shine.

This made me remind of few beautiful lines of Rudyard Kipling’s poem:

“If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowances for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise…”

It’s as if these lines were written for the times in which we are!!

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