There’s a Difference Between Transparency and Public Humiliation

Good leaders know the difference.

Not every workplace conversation needs to happen one-on-one. When an issue affects the team, open discussions can create shared context, better ideas, and collective accountability.

But leaders can undermine that openness when they single out one team member in front of everyone.

When a discussion becomes a public defense of a mistake, decision, or performance, people take notice. And suddenly, they stop asking questions, challenging ideas, and taking risks.

That’s not transparency. That’s self-preservation!

If the issue is individual, address it privately. If it’s a team issue, discuss it openly, focusing on the problem, the process, and the solution, not on making one person the problem.

Open communication should create a seat at the table, not put someone in the hot seat.