Leaders Modelling Openness at Work
Launch library · evergreen read
When a leader speaks honestly about their own challenges, even in small ways, it changes what feels acceptable for everyone else on the team. Openness at the top tends to filter down, making it easier for others to be honest too. Many people wish they had started this conversation sooner, once they finally did.
This does not require oversharing or turning every meeting into a personal disclosure. A simple acknowledgement, such as admitting a demanding week has been hard to manage, can be enough to shift the tone of an entire team toward greater honesty. This matters even when there is no immediate or visible change to point to.
Leaders can also point their teams toward support beyond the workplace. Lifeline is available on 13 11 14 at any hour, and Beyond Blue offers support on 1300 22 4636. It is worth trusting that small, consistent effort compounds over time. This is not something that needs to be done alone, even if it starts that way.