No Excuses Leadership

The Rule of Candor

"Make the family proud, don't embarrass the family." These were words repeated by my parents from the time I was a child, and used as a credo by my staff and I at our school.  They ring of loyalty and commitment to, and from, one another for our school.  I've always found that the best schools behave just like families.

Families laugh and cry together.  They also celebrate the accomplishments of one another and share in the rewards from their achievements.  But above all else, they are honest with each other.  When family members see an opportuntity to build someone's character, they don't shy away from having candid conversations that may be uncomfortable. This is especially true when they see someone making decisions that don't reflect well on the family.  As a school our number one rule of candor is this:

"If you're going to be bold enough to embarrass the family, I'm going to be bold enough to call you on it."

These words were declared by my staff and I from the start of every school year, and repeated on a regular basis. They apply to all of us, no matter our position. Not meant as an edict or demand, but instead as a promise to hold one another accountable to make the kinds of decisions that make our family proud.  

TAKE ACTION

Is your staff behaving like a family who cares about their collective success?  Have you made promises to not only support, but hold one another accountable through the use of candor?  If not, now's the time to start. 

BE BOLD

"Candor gets more people in the conversation. When you get more people in the conversation, you get idea rich."

- Jack Welch -