Has honesty gotten in the way of accountability? Last week, I had a chance encounter with a business owner while buying something in his store. We got chatting about leadership after he asked what I did for a living, and halfway through the conversation, we landed on communication. He proudly shared how honest his team is with him, even offering an example: “If someone’s had a big night on Saturday,” he said, “they’ll message me on Sunday morning and ask to push their shift back. I’d rather they be honest than lie. It’s all good.” He meant it, too. He wasn’t annoyed — he was proud. And to be fair, also realistic about what life looks like for many of his younger employees. It reminded me of a moment, years ago, when I was leading a team and got a call on a Sunday morning. One of my staff told me she had food poisoning and couldn’t make her shift. My spidey senses were tingling — but hey, food poisoning happens. Who was I to question it? Then Monday rolled around… and so did the “Nite Life” photos. There she was, front and centre in a Saturday night club pic. Clearly not food poisoning — just a hangover and a sick day to recover. So here’s my question to you: Do you want your team to be honest with you? I know — it’s a nuanced question. And like most of my newsletters, I’m not here to give answers, but to nudge you to think differently. Here’s what I’ve been reflecting on: Honesty is a double-edged sword. It can sound like: “I’m overwhelmed and don’t think I’m doing a good job.” “I find our team meetings pointless and I tune out.” “I’m not motivated by the way this role is structured.” “I went out last night, I’m hungover, and I need to start a bit later.” And while every one of those may be true, here’s the real kicker: What happens to accountability when we blur the line between honesty and obligation? If someone can repeatedly shift their responsibilities around because “at least they’re honest about it,” are we unconsciously lowering the bar? Are we accidentally building workplaces where honesty becomes a free pass — instead of a foundation for growth? So what does a healthy, honest culture actually require? A team member who’s willing to speak up with truth — even when it’s uncomfortable. A leader who responds with trust — and expects responsibility in return. And a culture that still holds people accountable when trust is broken. A real life example where honesty meets accountability: This week, one of my sons received his first-ever detention. He hadn’t handed in his maths homework — not once, not twice, but three out of four times. And while he’s a good kid and owned up to it (no “the dog ate it” excuses), the school still issued a detention. And you know what? I respect that. Because actions — even honest ones — still come with consequences. That’s the lesson I want him to learn: Being honest doesn’t make you exempt from responsibility. And that applies at home. In schools. And absolutely in the workplace. Somewhere along the way, we moved from “Leave your home life at the door” to “Bring your whole self to work”. And I’ll be the first one to raise my hand and say I have encouraged the latter. But has that pendulum swung too far? Have we started encouraging people to use their personal life as a reason for letting go of responsibility? Have we confused “I’d rather they be honest” with “I’ll let it slide” ? Because here’s the truth: Honesty isn’t meant to lower the standard — it’s meant to clarify expectations. So when someone says, “I had a big night,” maybe the answer is: “Thanks for telling me. Let’s talk about what that means for your responsibilities.” Because honesty without accountability? That’s just tolerance. And leadership without consequences? That’s not leadership — that’s just hoping for the best. Yours in leadership, Amy

You know the feeling. You’ve finally found your rhythm at work, and then—boom—your kid wakes up sick. Again. You cancel. Reschedule. Log in from the lounge room. And somewhere in the middle of the juggle, you start to wonder: Am I unreliable? Are people sick of me being “out again”? Is this just not working anymore? No one may have said it—but that internal noise is loud. And while it’s easy to point to outdated systems (and yes, they often are outdated), this is also a moment for something else: healthy ownership . Let’s name what’s true: 👉 You’re not unreliable — you’re needed in two places at once. 👉 You’re not failing — you’re adapting in real time. 👉 You’re not alone — the data backs you up: The numbers tell the story: 📊 73% of couple families with dependants have both parents working. 📊 In single-parent families , 76% of parents are working — with no backup. 📊 Most of us don’t have a partner at home full-time, or extended family on call. Just us. Doing our best. Everywhere at once. Stats from: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2024 But here’s the thing: It’s not just about being seen or supported. It’s also about how we lead ourselves through this. Healthy ownership sounds like this: ✅ “I’ll do what I can to support my family’s health and explore backup care if it’s accessible - but I’ll also give myself grace when things don’t go to plan.” ✅ “I’ll keep my team informed when I need to step away.” ✅ “I’ll be clear on what I can do while working from home—and honest about what I can’t.” ✅ “I’ll look at how we, as a team, can build a culture of mutual trust and backup—not burnout.” For leaders: 💡 Are you unintentionally expecting people to operate like they have full-time support at home? 💡 Do your systems help people be honest about capacity—or push them to mask it? 💡 Are you modelling what it looks like to show up with clarity and compassion—even when things don’t go to plan? The goal isn’t perfection. It’s leadership—in real life. Whether you’re managing a business, a team, or just yourself—you get to set the tone for how challenges are navigated. The systems may still be catching up—but you don’t have to wait for them to shift before you lead differently.  With winter approaching… Let’s stop pretending people can be in two places at once. Let’s stop measuring reliability by how rarely someone takes time off. And instead—let’s lead with clarity. 🧭 Know what you’re responsible for. 📣 Communicate early and honestly. 🤝 Support others the way you’d want to be supported. Whether you’re managing a business, a team, or just trying to hold it together day by day— this is leadership in real life. Yours in leadership, Amy Willis

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