Sometimes communicating with your manager can be just as challenging as level 86 of the Candy Crush Saga game. Just when you start to think you are making headway, you suddenly realize that you don’t have what you need to be successful and you could really use a lifeline. And to make things worse, you can’t move on to the next level until you accomplish your current objective.
One of the most important tools you can have in your tool belt is candor. Do you know how to manage up? Are you telling your manager what they need to hear? Are you telling your manager what you need to say? Are you being candid?
Jack Welch shared what he calls “the biggest dirty little secret in business.” That secret is candor. Candor enables everything and everyone to operate faster and better. The lack of candor blocks smart ideas and fast action. If people don’t express themselves frankly, they can significantly hinder operations and productivity.
Being candid with your manager may not come easy at first. In fact, it may be easier to sit for hours trying to clear a difficult board on Candy Crush Saga than it is to open up and explain your concerns to your manager.
Before being candid, ask yourself:
1. What do I really want from this situation?
2. What do I want for from my manager?
3. What do I want my relationship with my manager to look like after this conversation?
4. How would I behave if I really wanted these results?
After the candid conversation is over, you may just feel a wave of satisfaction and pride. It might even be more satisfying than clearing level 86 of Candy Crush Saga…but that all depends on how long you’ve been playing the game.