At Donor By Design, one of our core beliefs is to always to tell the kind truth. We serve our clients best when we’re honest with each other about what’s working and what’s not. The importance of an outside perspective was vividly illustrated for me on a recent drive.
I pulled along side a car with a left rear tire dangerously low on air. I did my best to alert them to the danger but my “your tire is low and you might crash” sign language was a bit rusty. Beeping my horn only seemed to anger them and they began to speed up!
A mile or so up the road, I just happened to follow them into a rest area. When they got out of the car, I approached and let them know that their tire was almost flat. They were both very appreciative and shared that they didn’t understand why I had been beeping at them. They thanked me again and we parted ways.
Although I had not really gone out of my way to try to help, I started to wonder how long they had been driving on that low tire and how many other people had noticed but chose to just ignore it. I guess sometimes it’s just easier to not get involved.
When it comes to low tire pressure, the worst perspective to see the potential danger is from the inside of the car. You can’t see your wheels and might be completely oblivious to the danger. You are rolling along just fine, until you’re not!
From outside the vehicle, I could see the potential danger as clear as day. From my outside perspective, I could see what they could not.
In my life, both personal and professional, I need to rely on those with a different perspective to alert me when I might be heading towards danger. Sometimes I am simply too close to the situation to see the big picture and to be objective. That’s where the kind truth from someone who cares about my well-being and success comes in.
We need others to help us see what we can’t, and to warn us when we may be headed towards danger. We need those around us to speak the kind truth!
Are your staff and volunteers comfortable telling the truth and pointing out what’s not working? When you’re told the kind truth, are you in the habit of saying thanks… even when it stings?
