Brene Brown brings a great twist on kindness, in her book Dare To Lead, when she suggests that, “clear is kind and unclear is unkind.” In other words, as a leader it is not only our responsibility, but an act of kindness, to provide our team with clarity.

There’s no question providing clarity can be difficult at times. We may think we are making others feel good by sparing them details, but the truth is, more times than not, we are trying to make ourselves feel better by [wussing out] only giving half truths and/or feeding BS and in the process Brown suggests we are being unkind.

It can also require courage to clearly lay-out expectations with people up-front and deal with things head-on. Withholding clarity of expectations, yet holding people accountable to or blaming them for not achieving expected outcomes is unkind.

Talking behind peoples’ backs is unkind, while addressing people directly is kind.

Leadership requires courage to speak the truth and provide clarity regardless of how difficult it may be to do so. To withhold clarity is not only unkind, but causes us to withdraw from the very people we need to stay close with.

Great leaders are kind by courageously providing clarity.

Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.