Love Everybody and Tell the Truth
Photo by SHVETS production
When I think about clear communication, I often come back to a quote by Ram Dass:
“Love everybody and tell the truth.”
There is something incredibly simple—and incredibly challenging—about that idea.
When someone isn’t being honest or clear, we can usually feel it. No matter how carefully the words are chosen, something feels off. We’re left wondering what they really mean, what they actually want from us, or whether we understood them correctly.
And when expectations aren’t clear, we fill in those gaps ourselves.
We assume. We interpret. We make our best guess.
That’s where misalignment begins.
On the flip side, when someone communicates truthfully and directly, we feel that too. Even when the message isn’t necessarily what we want to hear, there is freedom in knowing where we stand and what is being asked of us.
“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.”
— Maggie Kuhn
Clear expectations require us to be honest—not only with other people, but with ourselves.
Before we can clearly tell someone what we need, we have to know what we need.
What am I actually asking for?
What does success look like?
What does this person need to know in order to deliver what I’m expecting?
It’s easy to believe we’ve communicated something simply because we’ve said it. But communication doesn’t end when the words leave our mouths. We also have a responsibility to make sure the other person heard and understood what we intended.
And the same is true when we’re on the receiving end.
Rather than assuming we know what someone means, we can ask questions. We can clarify. We can repeat back what we heard and make sure we’re working from the same understanding.
There is vulnerability in doing that. Sometimes we avoid asking because we think we should already know. Sometimes we soften what we really want because we’re afraid of being demanding, disappointing someone, or creating discomfort.
I know I’ve spent plenty of time paralyzing my own productivity because I was afraid I wasn’t enough. In those moments, I wasn’t operating from truth. I was operating from a curated version of who I thought I should be.
The clearer we are—with ourselves and with each other—the less energy we waste trying to read between the lines.
Alignment creates accuracy. Accuracy creates clarity. And clarity enhances performance.
Setting and receiving clear expectations isn’t about being rigid or controlling. It’s about giving each other the information we need to succeed.
There is kindness in clarity.
Tell people what you need. Ask what they need from you. Make sure you understand each other.
Love everybody and tell the truth.
Ready to explore how authentic appreciation fuels breakthrough leadership, strengthens organizational culture, and drives business transformation? Share your appreciation story with us.
Fundamental of the Week #15: SET AND RECEIVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Communicate your expectations clearly; make sure people hear what you are asking. Take care to understand what’s expected of you.
Momentum Consulting offers executive business coaching, top-level executive consulting, team training, and team off-sites to build and transform your business to the next level. Inquire about business consulting and leadership coaching today.
