The strength in straightforwardness
Time to read: 3 minutes
Hi Reader
Early in my leadership career, I used to feel like I had to know all the answers. If the team asked something I didn’t know, I’d freeze. And then usually waffle my way through an answer and convince myself that I'd sounded credible.
We all knew I hadn't.
As I grew, I realised I'd been missing a vital trait: Straightforwardness. And it's far more powerful than just something to reach for in a tricky moment.
The Complication Trap
When we're short on clarity, we tend to overcompensate. We polish, over-frame, and yes, waffle.
You know the feeling. Maybe someone asks about the direction of your business and instead of saying "Here's what I see right now..." you launch into elaborate context-setting. You wrap your uncertainty in clever language. You hedge until your own point gets lost.
We're often trying to sound more ready and informed than we are. So we layer in too much context and padding, when a simple truth would serve us better.
Whether it’s your team needing clarity, your peers wanting honesty, or your clients sensing hesitation – straightforwardness cuts through.
It took me a while to realise this: straightforwardness isn’t about having the full picture. It’s about speaking from where you are right now.
And that’s always more useful than pretending you’re further ahead, or clearer than you are.
What Changes
When you stop using complexity as a cover, something shifts in the room.
People relax. They know where they stand. They can make decisions based on a real picture, not a polished uncertainty.
“I don’t know yet, but here’s what I do see” can often be a great start.
Teams, clients, and stakeholders can feel the difference between vague and grounded. There’s a quality of presence that comes with saying what you know and feel, even when it’s incomplete.
Just watch for the trap here: straightforwardness isn’t a licence for rudeness or uncaring bluntness. You need your full emotional intelligence and your straightforwardness working together. Be clear and kind. Present and thoughtful.
And our goal isn’t to flatten every conversation into simple, binary statements. More that we stop hiding behind fuzz and noise, when clarity would serve everyone better. Including ourselves.
Which brings me to a deeper question: if straightforwardness creates trust and momentum with others, what does it create with ourselves?
Your Foundation
Being straightforward with yourself – about what you want, what's not working, and what you're finding challenging is the start.
Are you hiding behind complexity or watering things down to avoid discomfort?
Maybe it's that business pivot you've been "exploring" for months. Maybe it's the team conversation you keep postponing because you haven't got the perfect words yet. Maybe it's the client boundary you know needs setting but you're waiting for the right moment.
You don't need to be fully clear to lead clearly – in your business, or within yourself.
You just need to stop hiding behind noise, overthinking and surface-level polish. Keep it straightforward. That's enough.
Where are you overcomplicating things instead of being straightforward?
Want support that cuts through the noise? I work with founders who are ready to lead with clarity, and turn strategic intent into consistent, purposeful progress.
If that sounds like where you’re headed, let’s talk. Book a free, no-pressure conversation and we’ll explore what that could look like .
Stay ambitious.
Rob
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Sparked Ambition Ltd | linkedin.com/in/robstubbs