We need to talk.

Tone at the Top – Weekly 17-Jun-2025

Welcome to "Tone at the Top," your weekly insights offering thought pieces and sustainable advantages to navigate our dynamic world, helping you lead effectively and stay ahead in an ever-changing market.

Tone at the Top is where leadership meets action, setting the standard for adaptability, innovation, and sustainable advantages.

Reading someone else's ToT? Subscribe to receive future ToT editions: 🔗

Four words. They catch in your throat whether you're hearing them from a partner, friend, employee, or delivering them yourself. That pause that follows? It's a void. And voids, by their nature, demand to be filled—often by speculation, worry, or worst-case assumptions.

As leaders, we don’t get the luxury of vagueness. If you’re going to speak, say it all. Or don’t say anything—yet.

Clarity Over Curiosity

There’s a reason our minds spiral in silence. Uncertainty pulls focus and fuels narratives that often diverge from reality. That’s why, when it comes to leadership communication—especially in times of change or challenge—partial truth can be more dangerous than silence. It breeds anxiety, undermines trust, and delays action.

Whether the news is uplifting, challenging, or nuanced, our role as leaders is to provide stability. And anchors don’t drift.

When I deliver a message to my team, I don’t hint at half-decisions or use phrases like, “We’re looking into it,” when we’re days from a major pivot. I wait until I can tell the whole story—what’s changing, why, and how we’re moving forward.

If you only say part of the truth, people will fill in the rest, with fear.

Timing is Everything

There’s a right time to speak. And there’s a right way to prepare.

Sometimes, withholding information is necessary—not because you’re hiding the truth, but because the foundation isn’t yet ready. Leaders must recognize when a message is still ripening. Before you speak:

·       Be Genuine – Don’t embellish to ease the blow or inflate good news. The trust of your team is built on truth, not spin.

·       Prepare the Narrative – Know the “why” behind the decision. Have data, context, and outcomes ready.

·       Know Your Setting – Deliver the message where your people can hear it—not just audibly, but emotionally.

·       Offer Solutions – Especially when delivering hard news, pair it with support and a path forward.

If you're going to break the news, also be the one to hold space for its aftermath.

Lessons in Saying It All

Years ago, during a significant digital transformation project, our team faced a decision to sunset a popular product. We could have leaked the transition over months through soft launches, subtle nudges, and vague updates. But we didn’t.

We called a meeting. I gathered the stakeholders and said:

“Here’s what we’ve decided. Here’s why. Here’s how we’ll support our customers and our team during the shift.”

No spin. No fluff.

It was tough. But it built something stronger than compliance—it built conviction. My team knew I trusted them with the truth. That’s what unlocked their creativity to build what came next.

The Half-Told Story is a Lie by Omission

We often think that not telling the full truth is a way to protect our people. But the reality is this: half-truths are unstable ground. They erode your credibility and make your team hesitant to act.

When we lead with courage and clarity, we give people solid ground from which to move. And when people move together on solid ground, transformation becomes possible.

Say It All. Or Wait.

Here’s the leadership equation:

Clarity + Timing + Courage = Credibility.

You don’t owe your team a play-by-play of every behind-the-scenes deliberation. But when you speak, speak with intention. If you’re not ready to tell the whole truth, don’t deliver fragments that confuse or mislead.

A good leader knows when to pause, when to speak, and when to say, “We’re not ready to share, but we will be, and soon.”

To Be Silent (Tacere): A principle, derived from 19th-century philosopher Eliphas Levi, emphasizes the importance of discretion and introspection. Silence is often viewed as a means of conserving energy, maintaining one's composure, and reflecting on past experiences. It's also about understanding when to speak and when to remain silent, recognizing that words can have a powerful influence.

That’s honesty, too.

Your Takeaways

·       Speak the Whole Truth – Avoid half-measures. People deserve clarity, not hints.

·       Time Your Message – Don’t rush to communicate before the foundation is set.

·       Support the Message with Solutions – Clear next steps and relevant resources should accompany every tough announcement.

·       Hold Space for the Impact – Leadership is also emotional stewardship.

This Week’s Reflection

Where in your organization are you speaking in fragments? What might shift if you paused until you could say it all?

And more personally, where in your own life are you holding back the truth, not out of malice but out of fear? Leadership starts from within. Begin there.

Onward.

About me

When someone in the board room drops the proverbial “I know a guy…” – that’s my cue because I’m that guy.

For 30 years, I’ve enabled companies in multiple industries to drive success by uncovering new revenue opportunities, increasing market share, reducing costs, and intensifying efficiency, creating $1 billion dollars in revenue.

How? By stating the hard truths, isolating the underlying problems, and executing data-driven, specific solutions to tackle these challenges.

Also

With five million air miles and as an executive in global corporations, I bring broad cultural insights to organizations. I serve as Vice Chair of Verity’s Supervisory Committee and have five terms as a corporate and non-profit board director.

I’m an end-of-life doula serving people and their circle of care in their final days.

Want to take the conversation deeper? Contact me here: 🔗