Over the course of my career, I've received a lot of feedback and been confronted by many inconvenient truths - and after years of working, I suspect this might be true for you too!

But just as I've tried to resist some of it in my professional life, I've noticed its undeniable value in my personal life…

I recently spent some quality time with my best friend. She and I haven’t lived within 100 miles of each other for more than 24 years, but she remains the person who makes me laugh harder than anyone else, and who I can always count on to deliver her unvarnished take, even when it’s inconvenient.

What we’ve learned together - 32 years in, plus 12 relocations, three marriages, and five kids later - is that staying open to inconvenient truths and working with them has brought us closer, made us wiser, and more resilient.

So, if you've been asked to take responsibility for some inconvenient truths at work, I encourage you to take these two steps…

1. Call your best friend. (Seriously, do it now.) Make each other laugh and tell them how much you appreciate them.
2. Check out the 5 inconvenient truths that have transformed the way my clients think, work, and lead, because I know they will help you too!

5 Inconvenient Truths That Will Transform Your Career

#1 - No one works for you.

Despite what you may have been taught by a string of former managers or your MBA curriculum, no one works for you. People work for themselves, and they work with you.

The more you believe this truth, the quicker you'll be able to figure out what actually motivates your team members, the easier it'll be to collaborate with them, and the more you’ll accomplish together.

#2 - No one has more power than you.

Even though much of our economy is based on mechanized hierarchy (a holdover from the Industrial Revolution), power is a social construct. Those who believe others have power over them tend to surrender their own, and those who don’t tend to grow healthy coalitions.

The more you embody and communicate this truth, the more you’ll inspire your team(s).

#3 - Nothing is in your control.

No matter how much you think you know, the future is unknowable and nothing’s guaranteed. The only thing you can count on is that unforeseen circumstances will, at some point, throw off your people, plans, and products. Is this reason to panic? Not necessarily!

The more you remember this truth, the faster you’ll recover and recalibrate after your best-laid plans fall apart.

#4 - Nothing really changes unless you change.

Your mind is a remarkable computer that will tell you how to avoid or minimize some pain and make up a story about why. Unfortunately, it also tends to externalize the hows and whys!

The more you understand this truth, the easier it'll be to ask yourself: “If I want a different result, how different do I need to be?” and lead with that strategic self-awareness.

#5 - Nothing matters more than your relationships.

AI is extremely helpful, workplace policies are necessary, and balance sheets are mission-critical, but none of these things can elevate (or undermine!) the energy of your organization the way relationships can. Integrity, trust, and reputation are essential ingredients for long-term success.

The sooner you embrace this truth, the more valuable data you’ll gather and the more help you’ll receive when you need it most.