Your Team Needs More Moments of Truth

Do you find moments of truth to be elusive in the workplace? Even if you’re at a place that is ethical and are surrounded by people that aim to do the right thing, the truth can still be elusive. And when we don’t have complete truth in the workplace, perception wins. I want to share with you some examples when perception contradicts reality, and help you to implement truth in the workplace.

The Slacker and The Workhorse – Perception and Reality

Perception – Workhorse: Our charismatic salesperson is out of the office working hard with contractors, customers, and prospects. Seems like a leader.

Reality – Slacker: The salesperson is spending the day at home and making personal errands. They have more complaints from customers than any other salesperson.

Perception – Slacker: The CEO doesn’t do any work, has been taking a bunch of vacations and comes in late.

Reality – Workhorse: The CEO works through vacation and works out of the office to gain clarity, stays late many nights and comes in on the weekends. As a result, they have helped the company achieve 20% growth year over year.

Perception – Slacker: The leadership team doesn’t care about us. We haven’t had raises, better benefits or decent hires over the last year.

Reality – Workhorse: The leadership team is working on a performance appraisal system, established two optional health benefit providers to roll out a better benefit plan for employees, and developed a new recruiting plan to roll out.

Perception – Workhorse: We have received new trucks, an additional office, and three new crews. Our company is really growing!

Reality – Slacker: 90-day receivables are at an all-time high. There are diminishing profits. And sales are 3% lower YTD than last year.

These perceptions are the result of a lack of communication. The absence of truth has allowed employees to generate an opinion about people and the organization that hinder us from getting progress in the organization.

Implement Moments of Truth

In my article Make Meetings Worth Every Moment, there were a number of items in the Level 10 Meetinghttps://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72×72/2122.png Agenda that forced teams to have moments of truth. In fact, each item of the agenda pushes truth. In EOS® we help companies create an open and honest culture—one that is transparent and prepared to face the truth. Below is the list of agenda items and how truth decreases false realties in the workplace.

1. Segue
   • Truth – Know what good things, personally and professionally, exist in your teammates’ lives from last week
   • Perception Defeated – There were no bright spots last week
2. Scorecard
   • Truth – Know exactly the number each team member hit last week
   • Perception Defeated – Charisma and personality are results
3. Rock Review
   • Truth – Know what our company’s priorities are and if they are being accomplished
   • Perception Defeated – Our company is not working towards anything to improve our condition
4. Customer/Employee Headlines
   • Truth – What big headlines exist in our organization
   • Perception Defeated – We don’t communicate when big moments take place
5. To-Dos
   • Truth – Ensuring my team members did or did not follow through with their commitments
   • Perception Defeated – Nothing is getting done around here
6. IDS – Identify, Discuss and Solve Issues
   • Truth – We know what issues exist in our organization and everyone is allowed a voice
   • Perception Defeated – Our voices don’t matter and none of us can make an impact on my company
7. Conclude
   • Recap To-Dos – Truth: Everyone understands what has to be done within the next 7 days
   • Cascading Messages – Truth: Everyone has been communicated with about initiatives and need-to-know items that came from this meeting
   • Rate the meeting – Truth: Everyone is open and honest about the effectiveness of the meeting and where to improve if needed

The truth is elusive when you don’t have methods for knowing the true condition of your company, team or employees. But to the degree that you can understand the truth, you can improve your organization.