The Art of Candor

Do we really allow ourselves and those around us to have their ideas be free and opinions to flow with out limiting them? Do we give everyone a voice? How can we allow people to bring their whole selves to the group or to us? We need and our groups need to be able to express themselves frankly to really get and understand the needs. The most powerful social groups I’ve been a part of in creating a movement are the ones that have learned the art of candor with one another.

Take the holidays and family gatherings we’re about to experience. How much closer could we be as a family unit if we allowed family to share how they really feel about things? Often times it takes a trigger moment for that to come out and by then it’s to late. We with hold criticism or our new ideas on how to improve our family connectedness or purpose because we don’t want to hurt feelings. We don’t want conflict with our family.

This same ideal happens in our other circles as well. They might not be our direct family, but they are an idea of family because of closeness.

There are so many benefits to being honest and open with our communication to others and theirs to us. A frank environment allows everyone to bring incredible ideas to the table for discussion and allows others to improve on them. When everyone on a team of any kind have the opportunities to voice loudly and quickly their opinions or ideas, they can be evaluated and moved on or left because they didn’t fit.

So how do you get there? How can we be the catalyst in our groups to create this kind of free sharing thought and bring more ideas to the surface?

Start by asking the quietest member in your groups for their input. Give them the stage they may feel they don’t have. Talk less and ask lots of probing questions. As answers come in or ideas are shared, listen actively. If you’re going to talk, make sure it’s asking questions to seek to understand versus posturing yourselves to be point or command of the group.

The post is simple, but powerful. Let ideas and opinions flow freely. Your next unlock could come from an idea shared by the quietest member of your group. Encourage candor in the group you’re in this holiday and through out the new year. Give everyone a voice. Especially if you already have one.

✌🏻 Shawn