Honesty and Transparency as Tools

Read time: 3 minutes

One of the most natural parts of my coaching work is guiding clients toward honesty and transparency—but not as abstract ideals. These are core practices in Groundwork, essential for moving out of survival mode and into clarity, presence, and intentional action.

Radical honesty starts internally. In Groundwork, we notice when we are operating from fear, overwhelm, or unconscious patterns. When we are in survival mode, clarity is clouded. The stories we tell ourselves—about ourselves, about others, about the world—distort reality. Without first observing our internal state, true honesty is almost impossible.

Honesty and transparency are not about oversharing every thought or venting frustrations. They are about communicating what matters in ways that serve clarity, connection, and action. One of the most powerful forms of transparency is explaining why we make decisions the way we do.

When we share our reasoning, others gain insight into our thought process. They can see the principles guiding our choices, the priorities we are balancing, and the constraints we are navigating. This clarity invites collaboration, sparks creativity, and reduces friction. Teams can innovate because everyone understands not just the “what,” but the “why.” Misunderstandings are minimized, and people feel included in the decision-making process.

I see this in my clients all the time. One leader began openly sharing her project roadblocks with her team—not as complaints, but as real-time visibility into challenges and the reasoning behind her next steps. Her transparency allowed the team to adjust, support each other, and contribute ideas they might never have shared otherwise. Everyone felt lighter, more aligned, and more empowered to contribute creatively.

It’s worth noting that taking the time to be honest and transparent can feel daunting. It requires slowing down, reflecting, and choosing presence over reaction. But this pause is precisely what makes it a practice outside of survival mode—and the tone we set when we act from clarity instead of fear carries into our relationships, teams, and work.

A simple practice is to pause and ask: Am I clear internally? Am I communicating in a way that serves understanding, trust, creativity, and collaboration? Am I explaining the reasoning behind my decisions so others can engage fully? Groundwork teaches that honesty begins inside—and from there, it ripples outward, transforming both your relationships and your collective results.

When we integrate this practice into our daily lives, honesty and transparency become not just values, but tools—tools that free us from survival mode.