A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths

Book excerpt: No more "checking for feet." This illuminating guide gets people to tell the truth at the meeting--not in the bathroom afterwards. Almost everybody lies. In one recent survey, 93% of people admitted to lying regularly at work! Why? Because it's safer than telling the truth. Sadly, organizations cannot succeed in this poisonous world of half-truths, strategic omissions, and doctored information. A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths shows how the formal process of "dialogue" can create a safe place to tell the truth. In a lively discussion, author Annette Simmons shows managers how to use this technique to: encourage truth-telling by reducing fear prompting self-examination, and opening minds build trust where suspicion and cynicism held sway inspire individuals to think and learn as a group help groups talk through tough issues and move to collaborative action To function optimally, businesses must create an environment where people feel free to tell the truth, no matter how disturbing. Only then can organizations unleash the responsiveness, creativity, and enthusiasm necessary to achieve their goals.