Leadership tells people what they need to hear...Not necessarily want to hear by Dale Calvert

From time to time we have downline members who make a major mistake in judgment or business ethics. As leaders, we must address these issues, and sometimes that is not an easy thing to do. We must be strong enough to tell people what "they" need to hear, not necessarily "want" to hear.

In her book "People Management", Mary Kay Ashe says we should always attempt to sandwich difficult issues, and criticism between two layers of praise.

I believe in you because, followed by the issue that must be corrected, followed by I still believe in you.

When leadership doesn't handle the difficult issues, eventually a "free for all" circus attitude can be developed within your downline, and as I have witnessed, within the companies themselves.

A good friend of mine, Randy Pruden from Evansville Indiana shared with me the following site. www.fun2smile.com. Check it out, and bookmark it. The next time you have to deal with a difficult situation within your group, remember this site. Deal with the issue and a day or two later, send your downline member to the site to check it out!

Leadership, must love people enough to tell them the truth. We must tell them, "What they need to hear, not necessarily want to hear". Your downline doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Leadership, must be tough sometimes.

Will some people let you down? Absolutely, but at least in your gut, you will know that you did and said all you could do and say to help them. If they blame you for their short falls, even if no one else knows, you and them both will know the truth. Be tough, love your people, and tell them the truth. Leadership who doesn't challenge people to grow, learn, develop, get better, and become all they can be, is not leadership.