Facing Reality
Article | Accountability Insights
We often hear this question: “When it comes to See It (the first step Above The Line), how do we help our people understand how important it is to hear the hard things, so they can see the reality of the situation?”
Most people have experienced working with someone who blatantly refuses to See It. Such refusals generally reflect a person’s unwillingness to hear the hard things—the tough messages, the difficult feedback, or the reality of different perceptions. Without a strong commitment to hear a message “as is” (not what you think it should be), you risk missing information that could make the difference in whether you achieve your desired results. Organizationally, the price we pay for not hearing the hard things can be extremely high.
Here are a few guidelines for hearing the hard things, so you can see the reality of the situation:
| • | Realize that all perspectives, points of view, and perceptions have value when it comes to seeing more of reality. | |
| • | Tough to take messages, difficult to accept feedback, and hard to understand perspectives make us defensive—that’s precisely when you most need to overcome the natural urge to close your mind and shut your heart. | |
| • | Most organizations have taboo topics, sacred cows, blind spots, and/or elephants in the room (otherwise known as obvious truths that are being purposely ignored) that must be openly discussed and addressed to make greater progress. | |
| • | When you hear an opinion, interpretation, or belief that you don’t like, explore it rather than ignore it. Remember, other peoples’ beliefs are based on their experiences, and this makes it part of your reality and theirs. | |
| • | Keep this adage in mind: the more you know, the less you see; the more you see, the less you know. |
To learn more about hearing the hard things so you can see the reality of the situation and its role in Creating A Culture Of Accountability, we invite you to join the Accountability Community by visiting www.partnersinleadership.com, where you can review actual client case studies that illustrate the impact on results of hearing the hard things.
See It, Above The Line, Creating A Culture Of Accountability, and Accountability Community are all registered trademarks of Partners In Leadership, Inc.