People say to me that life is not a rehearsal, they spend their life as if every day is a live performance. I encourage them to explore what’s valuable in a rehearsal and bring that to their performance. Quite often people love the opportunity to experiment in rehearsal and as a result they find more options than if they approach every situation as a live performance.

1) Admitting you’re wrong makes you human, not incompetent

You learn faster through failure than perfection. When you are transparent, you become more effective because people can see what you are great at and where you need help. Being transparent helps everyone embrace what is human in each of us. This applies with individuals, teams, organisations and nations.

2) Your co-workers already know your strengths and weaknesses

People watch what you do as well as what you say. People can see through what you present to the world to what you are beneath the surface. The effort of presenting the person you think the world wants just takes more effort and energy for you – everyone else knows you’re acting.

Glenn Llopis’s article “Powerful Things Happen When A Leader Is Transparent”outlines the impact of greater transparency. Problems are solved faster, teams are built more easily, relationships grow authentically, people begin to promote trust in their leader and as a result, higher-levels of performance emerge.

3) People who don’t know you have the technology to find out before they meet you

Technology is breaking down the barriers between individuals and corporations, between organisations and between governments and the people they serve. Finding out about someone via their social footprint may be the difference between someone deciding to meet with you or not.

Being conscious of the impact of transparency in an organisation is critical. Like anything overplayed it can create consequences. This is captured well by John Brandon in his article Why Transparent Leadership is Overrated. He explains that transparency in leadership is a good thing, except when it leads to an incompetent atmosphere.

Being transparent takes less time and energy and helps you and others play to their strengths.

*This post was originally published on Linkedin. One thing we've done recently is put together a list of the top business coaches in Sydney, and another list of the top business coaches in Melbourne. Let us know how you go with them - good luck!