“When delivering a difficult message, the most important challenge is finding a way to be both 100% honest and 100% respectful.”
– paraphrased from The Leader’s Digest
Difference makers often have to be direct. To address the tough matters that others ignore, run from, gloss over or shy away from, honesty and respect are good keys.
But the willingness to take a risk is even greater.
If someone is close to us — a person we care about and that cares about us — it can be hard to say, “Stop the pity party, dude!” or “Look, you can’t blame so-and-so for your problem; for your decision.”
What risk is there?
Well, perhaps it’s that they won’t like you as much, or want to hang around with you. They may “retaliate,” with something hurtful (and maybe even true!) about us. They may think less of us or avoid us as a means of not dealing with whatever “it” is.
Difference makers find a way to get the message through with love and good intentions. Difference makers say what they don’t want to hear. Honestly. Respectfully.
And in doing so, they make a difference.
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