The Consequences of Transparency (or Ruminations While Sick)

No one will meet with me today after I let them know that I have strep. You can’t tell I have it because I’m asymptomatic. I’m a “carrier”, which means that while I have the illness, I don’t experience the nasty effects–but am still contagious and can give the illness to others. I like to think of it like a kind of twisted superpower, that I could use for good or evil. Since I’ve never been one for the dark side, I err on the side of truth telling and let the cards fall where they may. Today, that means hours of solid work time rather than meetings.
And here’s where I started to think about how this example goes beyond strep: Sometimes transparency and truth telling leave us standing alone for reasons that have more far reaching ramifications in our lives or the lives of others than a momentary illness. Like being a carrier of strep, being a carrier of the truth can leave you lonely. Question is: do you choose it anyway, especially when you know the stakes are important?
I like to think of such moments as show and tell. Choices made in critical moments show others who we are and tell a story of our values. You’ve heard the phrase “when people show you who they are, believe them”? Show and tell moments are chock full of personal info worth noting, in our personal relationships and business. And the more show and tell moments we encounter and witness, the more information we have upon which to base our judgements. Patterns emerge.
So, what are you bringing to show and tell moments? What are you showing others about who you are and telling them about your values? What kind of patterns are emerging for others about you in your personal life and your business life? What would you change?
It is my hope that we could all take a “sick day” from time to time and reflect on these points…and upon reflection, perhaps aspire to be the kinds of people who, in show and tell moments, have track records for truth telling and integrity, even if it means that sometimes we will be left standing alone.