We all tell stories about ourselves. These stories connect us to our past and define our visions of the future. But stories can hold us back from reaching our potential if they aren't true. Are you real and raw with yourself about where you and your company are right now? When you face down your fears and strip away the excuses, you are left with clarity, and that clarity is the power to grow.
When we talk about honesty, we aren’t talking about beating yourself up. Rather, we want you to step into ownership and empowerment. Where you are today doesn’t define where you will be tomorrow. But if you don’t know where you are today, how can you ever map a path to your future goals?
Here are seven ways that being radically honest with yourself and your company will enable you to break through barriers and progress toward your goals.
1. Clarity is Power
To make informed decisions about the direction your company should go and the next steps you need to take, you have to be absolutely clear about where you are right now. You can’t sugarcoat the truth and make things seem better than they are, but taking an overly pessimistic view of your company doesn’t help either.
Clarity is power because it gives you accurate information. When you are honest with yourself, you can identify what is working and what is not. That kind of clarity is the foundation for meaningful change.
2. Pain as a motivator
Sometimes, being absolutely honest with yourself is painful. It is hard to see where you fall short and to be so clearly aware of the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Yes, that kind of awareness is uncomfortable, but it is also motivating.
"Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change."
Pain is a powerful catalyst for change. Lean into the discomfort and let it propel you toward your goals.
3. The foundation of a business MAP
A MAP is a massive action plan, a flexible guide to get you from where you are to where you want to be. It goes further than a business plan because it gets at the heart of your business, what you want to achieve and why your goals matter. It charts a course toward massive success, and it leaves room for pivots as things change along the way.
You know how the map in every mall or national park has one of those “you are here” markers? Have you ever tried to use a map where the “you are here” marker has been worn off? It is pretty much impossible. You can’t chart a course to where you want to go without knowing where you are.
The same is true for your business. You might have the best intentions, clear goals and a compelling vision. But if you aren’t honest with yourself about where you currently are, it doesn’t matter how great your map is or how ambitious your goals are; you won’t end up where you want to be.
When you are honest about your challenges and strengths, you can build a business MAP that accurately reflects your company’s needs. Are you struggling with poor inventory management or high employee turnover? Are you failing to bring in new customers or failing to keep the ones you have?
Challenges and failures aren’t something to be afraid of; they are opportunities for growth, but only if you identify them. If you are struggling, business coaching and mentoring can be powerful tools for identifying your weak points and strategizing solutions.
4. Take ownership
Once you have identified your weaknesses, don’t fall into the trap of blaming someone else for them. Blame might feel good in the moment, but it stifles progress. Even if external factors contributed to your problems, be honest about your role and take ownership.
Taking ownership is power, the power to fix problems and create change. When you blame others, you give away control and the ability to grow.
Hal Eldrod said, "The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life."
As a leader, you set the tone for the rest of the company. When you are honest about your shortcomings and take ownership of your own growth, you give permission for your employees to do the same. This fosters an environment of honesty and progress.
5. Solicit honest feedback
When you have invested hundreds of hours and thousands or millions of dollars into your company, it can be difficult to detach yourself enough to view it clearly. That is why having mentors or coaches who can give you honest feedback is so valuable.
Find or hire someone who can give you an outside perspective on your business. This can be a trusted mentor or an experienced executive coach. A Metrix Global study found that companies that used executive coaching services saw a 529% return on investment.1
Coaches can see weak spots in your company that you might miss. They have proven strategies to help you address those problems and supercharge your business growth.
6. Measure effectively
Being honest about your business enables you to measure your growth effectively. Clear metrics hold individuals and teams accountable, driving progress.
Let’s say you want to improve customer satisfaction. You could just try a bunch of strategies and hope that one of them works. Or you could measure customer satisfaction now, implement a strategic plan, and then measure customer satisfaction again to see where you improved and where you still need work. You can make decisions based on data rather than guesses based on emotions.
"You can’t manage what you don’t measure."
Regular and consistent measurement is a powerful tool. It’s not just about collecting data but using that data to pivot and make changes when needed. It allows you to identify issues early and adjust. However, measurement is only effective when you are willing to be honest and not shy away from the problems and shortcomings you identify.
7. Celebrate progress
Happiness doesn’t come from reaching your final goal but from making progress. Yes, being honest means that you don’t sugarcoat your shortcomings, but it also means that you see and identify your strengths and growth. Noticing and celebrating small victories creates momentum that drives your team toward your goals. Be just as honest about your successes as you are about your failures. Celebrate progress and see how your team responds enthusiastically to the next challenge.
"The secret to happiness is progress. When you’re growing, you feel alive."
Bonus: What business are you really in?
Asking the right questions can help you gain clarity in your business. One of the best questions to ask is, “What business am I really in?”
Walt Disney started as a small animation studio in a garage in Los Angeles. Steamboat Willie was its first big success, but it faced competition when other companies, like Warner Brothers, also started producing animated shorts.
Disney revolutionized the entertainment industry when it released the first full-length animated film, Snow White, showing that you could tell nuanced, emotional stories with animation. At this juncture, Walt Disney realized that his company was not just in the business of making cartoons or movies; it was in the business of telling stories and creating immersive, emotional experiences for families. Stories didn’t need to be confined to the screen; they could be lived and experienced.
Identifying what business he was really in shaped Disney’s future, leading to theme parks, merchandising, and streaming. Being honest about what business YOU are really in will let you connect with your customers in more meaningful ways and create a company you are passionate about.
Radical honesty might be painful at first, but it is the key to unlocking exponential growth and reaching all of your goals.
Infographic
Honesty isn’t about self-criticism; it’s about ownership and empowerment. This infographic outlines seven ways that being radically honest with yourself and your organization can help you overcome obstacles and advance toward your objectives.
1https://researchportal.coachingfederation.org/Document/Pdf/abstract_681
