Sundaymail Editor
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
Most people prefer individuals who communicate openly and do not seem to have something to hide.
However, only a few people take time to introspect to see if they do the same.
Almost everyone wants to have transparent people around them, but not everyone wants to be transparent around others.
The Bible, in the book of James 4:10 (NIV), says: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill.”
This scripture shows the often-hidden battles that take place within people.
What if someone is transparent enough to share their thoughts, desires and feelings?
People would actually be in a better position to help one another.
Sadly, on many occasions, what people show outwardly is different from what is inside them.
Lack of transparency makes relationships sour.
After last week’s attempted suicide by a Harare man, I decided to randomly engage 15 individuals, some from work and others from church, to explain how their relationships — whether with spouses, partners, friends, work colleagues or anyone close — got sour.
All of them mentioned issues around lack of transparency.
Lack of transparency creates doubts and drives a wedge between people.
If not managed, this can destroy relationships.
Honesty and transparency bring vulnerability, which builds strong bonds in relationships.
So, transparency, which cures a lot of things in relationships, is not necessarily a choice.
How transparent are you to yourself, your peers and people around you?
There is a difference between transparency and gossip.
Know when to keep information to yourself.
For instance, if your boss gives you sensitive information, ask if you can share with others or not.
If the answer is no, then do not share, otherwise it may cost you your job.
Organisational status
Certain cultures are barriers to transparency.
For instance, measuring success through doing what the manager asks you to do and not necessarily what your role entails you to do.
What then happens to those whom the manager does not ask for personal favours or specific duties.
One of the main challenges in modern organisations is lack of honesty, trust and transparency among co-workers and leaders, as well as in the organisation itself.
Organisations are full of people who are very good at talking and very poor at delivering.
Upon joining an organisation, a significant number of teams are not honest in giving information of what they can or cannot do.
Some of them take up roles or positions only to discover that they are not experienced as they would have presented.
Frustration then creeps in as teams fail to deliver and management fails to take it.
On the other hand, management may fail to be open enough with information on what is required.
Teams may join an organisation based on interviews, only to discover that what is on the ground is different from what someone would have been promised.
There is need for clear assignment of duties.
The vision, values, set goals and targets should be known.
The Bible, in Habakkuk 2:2 (NIV), says: “. . . write down the vision, make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”
Only when the vision is transparent enough, it becomes easy for the team to pursue it and achieve pleasing results.
Transparency promotes productivity, as it stimulates higher engagement and reduces barriers to innovation and creativity.
Leaders should keep teams in the loop and share information freely.
How can your teams be as passionate as you are if they are kept in the dark?
Be transparent with the relevant information that teams require, like the budget and the goals, and address their concerns openly.
Your teams can then be inspired to act with confidence, responsibility and accountability.
General facts
Discoveries in relationships are painful.
They strain relationships.
It is better to be honest enough and let people accept you for who you really are. Those who would have accepted you the way you are can then help you to become what you want to be.
In this month of love, be inspired to be open, honest and trustworthy in your relationships in order to build trust that is beneficial in many different ways.
Above this, I wish you better relationships in everything you do.
Take time to introspect to address any inklings of dishonesty within you.
Clarify issues before jumping to conclusions.
I wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day!
Rutendo Gwatidzo is the managing director at The HUB HR Consultancy, a culture and change management organisation. She is a multi-award-winning leader, as well as a consultant, speaker and mentor. She is also the author of two books – “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. Feedback: 0714575805 winningstrategy.2020 @gmail.com / Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter