Communicating authentically means being yourself when you communicate. It also means communicating your truth to others, whether you’re speaking, writing or listening.

I recently attended a Christmas luncheon that was scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. After announcements were made, we all got back to chatting. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.

When the entree was served at 1:15 p.m., it was cold. Guests started to drift out before dessert came and by the time it arrived at 1:40 p.m., about 80 percent of the guests had left to get back to work.

When asked to complete a comment card that would go to the restaurant management I simply wrote, “In spite of slow service, it was worth the wait!” And this was the truth — it was worth the wait because the soup and dessert were quite tasty!

A woman at my table was horrified. “That’s a left-handed compliment,” she said. “I can’t believe you wrote that.” Then I wondered:

Is telling the truth considered rude if you make someone aware of a problem or help them improve?

When I started my business 10 years ago, I sent a survey after a project was completed. I asked clients to tell me about their experience working with me. What did I do right? More importantly, what didn’t I do right?

The second question was more important to me than the first one. I was new to running a business, and I wanted to learn. While I cringed at some of the comments, I appreciated the honesty and worked hard to improve.

  • What do you do in a situation like slow service at a restaurant or when completing surveys?
  • Do you speak authentically? Or do you “pretty it up” so you don’t hurt feelings or upset anyone?
  • If you don’t speak authentically, why? Is there a reason you don’t speak your truth when the goal is to help someone improve or make them aware of a problem?

Click “Leave a comment” at the top of this post and let’s hear your truth! Have a refreshing and productive day!

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