Courage: Speaking your truth when it’s hard.

We must build the skills, the “muscle”, and the courage to speak with “mature directness” and to be committed to the concept of being “impeccable with one’s words”–say what we do and do what we say without exception. Speaking YOUR truth leads to stronger relationships, clarity of communications and peace of mind. Your career deserves it. 

“Say what you mean, mean what you say, and say it in real time." - Carl Bass

Carl Bass who was a brilliant “maker” and former CEO of the software design company Autodesk for many years constantly promoted the concept of “mature directness” amongst employees and leaders. Mature directness is the process of having frank, collaborative, and respectful conversations. 

In addition to being highly productive, this style of interacting promotes trust by modeling personal integrity, demonstrating competence, and being inclusive of other people and ideas. Being direct in a mature way is saying what you mean and meaning what you say in real time. It is also being open to others when they are being direct, whether you like what they say or not. Carl explicitly was giving every employee at the company permission and the courage to speak the truth, even when it was difficult and without consequences. This created a culture of open communications for EVERY employee and Autodesk continues to receive accolades as one of the Best Companies to Work for worldwide. 

Gathering the courage to speak the truth with authenticity stands as a fundamental skill. The cultivation of courage is not a one-time event but a continuous journey towards YOUR personal and professional growth. 

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