The courage to say what needs to be said

It happens to many leaders. Something needs to be said, and someone has to say it. It’s not easy to tell the truth, especially if it hurts. Yet, as a leader, you need to be able to say what others can’t. It can be a very thankless job, albeit a necessary one.

I often work with leaders that find many reasons not to say what needs to be said. Have you found yourself in situations where. . .

• you don’t dare to speak up for what you believe is right because you’re new in the organization and not sure of the consequences.


• There might be a troublesome truth no one wants to hear, and you don’t want to be the one bringing it up.


• Productive work requires making a request, saying no, delivering bad news, giving challenging feedback or influencing someone who may not appear receptive.

It takes a truly selfless and courageous person to dare to speak out on what really matters.

As a leader, it’s important to have the responsibility and the courage to say what needs to be said, however difficult or uncomfortable, at the crucial moment. You can be sure that someone needs to hear it. Churchill was that kind of leader.

A leader with integrity has to have the courage to say no. The courage to say unpopular things when it’s the vital thing for the moment. The courage to face and say the truth. The courage to do what’s right because it’s right.

A wise leader has the courage to say what needs to be said and the humility to say it in the right way, demonstrating respect for others.

And there are times when your courage to say things that are hard to say creates the strongest bonds of all. The bonds of respect and trust.

Remember. . .

What you need to say might make people admire you or make them look at you like you’re crazy. It might get no reaction at all. But that's not the point. What matters most is that you had the courage to say what was needed to be said. At the end of the day, you can live with yourself, because you did what was right.

Share with us. . .

What is the most difficult thing you have had to say? How did you find the courage to say it?

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