Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to say what needs to be said, clearly, respectfully, and without flinching. The hard part is not the truth itself. It is staying in the room once you say it.
People who have worked with me know this:
I will always tell you the truth, but I will also listen.
And I want the truth back.
Because clarity only works when it is mutual.
Direct does not mean dismissive.
Honest does not mean harsh.
Clarity is not cruelty.
Vagueness is.
Over the years, I have watched good teams unravel—
not from conflict, but from confusion.
When people are left guessing, they fill in the blanks.
And rarely with the best-case scenario.
Clarity is not about being blunt.
It is about being respectful enough to say the thing, explain the why, and stay present for the reaction.
It takes more energy in the moment.
But it protects what you are trying to build.
Real leadership is not perfect. 