On Transparency and Trust

I have written about transparency in the past, and if you know me, you know it is one of the principles that I work hard to adhere to.

is it easy? no.

that’s why I say I work hard for it.

because been transparent is not only hard, but also a double edge sword.

on the one hand, by being transparent you allow others to give you advice that could be actionable, you also empower others around you to take a step forward and do their bit, you also avoid (giving) surprises.

however difficult and vulnerable being transparent is, it can also tilt the other way and make people feel insecure or uncomfortable with the current situation; which is why just as important as been transparent, keeping those around you informed as things change, also is; so they can assess reality and make decisions – and you need to be comfortable with the however the outcome.

in the past I’ve been bitten by surprises, they are not great. worst, I’ve been bitten by people’s “everything is alright” until it isn’t, and you never saw it coming, sort of situations; leaving close to know chance for action.

being transparent and inviting transparency back to you is part of earning and giving trust, it’s about inviting people to be candid to you and for you to welcome it with open arms, it is about having timely feedback to inform action.

transparency and trust seem like a lost art but something we all should try to embrace and nurture, not only to make our today better but also to transform situations around it, either by action or by influence, or even sometimes to prepare yourself for what’s coming.

thinking everything is up and to the right, today, doesn’t cut it; but by being transparent you also invite others to act; and, to realise that we’re all in it, together.