It goes without saying. Well, not really. The biggest cause of conflict and ill will usually results from what goes unsaid. Whether it’s a compliment for a job well done or an area to be improved, say it. We’re just so busy that if you don’t communicate in the moment it certainly may go unsaid forever.
As a professional speaker I frequently see that person in the audience that’s clearly not enjoying my talk. They look miserable. I notice them. I worry about them. I try to turn them around. Frequently it’s that person who comes up afterwords and says something like, “You changed my life!”
I want to say, “Hey, tell your face.”
As a leader, you don’t want to be that person. You don’t want your team to wonder what you’re thinking. Let them know.
Losing your best team member because they didn’t know how much you appreciated them, or surprising someone with negative feedback in their annual review isn’t leadership.
Just say it.
Photo credit: Bradley Gordon
