“Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
We have all heard the phrase, “I’m going to be honest with you.” As for me, I’m bothered by it. I don’t use it. Indeed, most of us don’t assume the person using the phrase is dishonest or intended to lie to us yet chose in this specific moment not to. It’s an expression most of us don’t give much attention to which precedes a person’s truest, deepest, and most honest assessment of or feelings about something.
When I hear it, I immediately say, internally, “well thanks a lot! Was your alternative to lie to me?” What was or is their alternative? Is there newfound honesty or moment of integrity a favor to me? Are they the type of person who would conceal their true feelings about something? Am I not typically worthy of the truth? “Can I get a good phone number for you?” There’s another one. As opposed to a bad phone number? What else would I provide? Perhaps I’m overthinking this. However, in leadership, words and phrases matter. Words and phrases – the wrong ones can lead to problems, inefficiencies, even ruin…
Read the rest here.
