When my son was six years old, he came home from school visibly upset. He had misunderstood the instructions for a big project he’d worked on all weekend  (hatching eggs).

As a supportive parent,  I encouraged, “The GOOD news is that you can learn from this. And NEXT time you can ask better questions!”

 His big eyes narrowed. He clenched his jaw.

“MOM!  Your positive attitude is starting to ANNOY me!”

A real-world lesson from the mouths of babes.

I am genuinely optimistic. I was just wired that way. 

But I have learned over time that when people are struggling with hard issues, they don’t always want an ENTIRELY positive perspective. Or a pep talk. Or even a happy face.

They just want the truth. And to be heard.  

I find the same thing in my work with organizations that are driving a high-stakes strategy.

A high-stakes strategy requires placing a big bet. Everyone knows that the road might get bumpy.

Leading by whistling with your eyes closed when things go off the rails can be a quick way to lose credibility.

We all WANT leaders with a strong vision for what’s possible — who see possibilities. 

But when things go wrong, that does not mean we want a sugarcoated message. 

Or worse, silence.

When we can feel there is a risk, we just want to know the truth. 

Science shows that one of the best ways for humans to REDUCE anxiety is to actually TALK about the risk. Otherwise, it looms, unbounded.

Today, even as many organizations have successfully navigated pandemic-impacted disruptions and accomplished impressive results, we are hearing rumblings of more bumps in the road: “inflation”, “restructuring”, and even the dreaded “L” word (layoffs).

Whether you lead a small team or a large organization — or your family– my prayer is that you are walking this bumpy road with a strong sense of balance:

• Balancing enthusiasm for your purpose and possibilities, with being able to honestly acknowledge the uncertainty and challenges you face.
• Willing to share the facts about what you DO know — as well as admitting what you do NOT know and when you might know more.
• Ready to openly discuss real-world scenarios and how they might play out.
• Calmly and creatively discuss what you and your organization CAN do now to de-risk and prepare for different outcomes.
• And how to make sure you’re ready to seize windows of opportunity that may present themselves, even in uncertainty.

This balancing act may not be easy or ever be done, but those you lead with appreciate you for trying. 

Even if sometimes you ARE a little annoying:)

P.S. If you are leading a new strategy, or getting an initiative back on track, check out our De-Risk System for Impact. It’s a practical way to anticipate the risks of your strategy and put a plan in place to address them. Happy to discuss. Your mission is too important. Don’t let it get derailed. Susan Schramm, Founder, Go to Market Impact susan.schramm@gotomarketimpact.com