Have you ever thought, “If only they had told me what was really going on and what they wanted, I could have done something about it”? Or, “If I’d just had that necessary information or feedback, I could have made a much better decision”?

On the flipside, perhaps at times you have withheld opinions and ideas and thought to yourself, “Why bother sharing my opinion? What difference will it make?”  

Working in the trenches with thousands of individuals from organizations of every size for almost fifteen years, I have discovered that the root cause of most organizational problems is the lack of honest, open communication. What I mean by a lack of honest, open communication is not only the truth versus lies aspect, but also the more subtle and sometimes more insidious aspect – the withholding of issues, information, opportunities, and ideas. When communication is stunted, it touches every aspect of organizational life. The key to collaboration, innovation, and growth is to get the unsaid said.

Problems That Result When Issues, Information, and Ideas Are Withheld Read More ›