MikeOharaLive the intersection of faith and life

Saying the Hard Thing

Incredible start to the week with a couple of meetings with key leaders.  What I admire about these leaders is their willingness to say the hard thing.  And because they are willing to do so, they help sharpen me as a leader and, in turn, make GBCK better.  You wouldn't call these meetings "feel good" meetings, but they are so vital for the health of our leadership team.

Here are some observations about saying the "hard thing":
1.  Each leader took time to think about what they wanted to say.  Rather than speak from raw emotion, they took time to pray, think, and even sleep on their thoughts.
2.  They said the right thing in the right way.  Sometimes you can say the right thing in the wrong way and it sours the conversation.  Each leader said their thoughts in a way that was clear, forthright, and respectful.
3.  When someone is willing to say the hard thing it shows they care; their heart is in it.
4.  It's never personal, never.  In the end, we're still friends.
5.  Saying the hard thing is always a risk because you don't know how the other person is going to react.  Still, it's a risk worth taking.

As I said, these types of meetings are never comfortable, but in the end, it's saying the hard thing in love that makes us better.