Here's a Radical Idea - Tell the Truth!

It's one thing for an individual convert to embrace radical honesty. But what about the rest of the organization? At P&G Mary Cusack picked up a simple technique for practicing honesty that she now uses in her consulting work. It's called Stop, Start, and Continue. Every six months, members of her group participated in an informal appraisal exercise. Each person selected 5 to 10 peers, subordinates, and managers to evaluate them along three simple criteria: "This is what I want you to stop doing; this is what I want you to start doing; this is what I want you to continue doing." Then the whole group met to discuss the appraisal. At P&G, reports Cusack, the process became "addictive and very satisfying."

Blanton isn't surprised. "Once people get through to the truth," he says, "they fall in love with it."

Alice Van Housen (72731.526@compuserve.com) is a writer and consultant based in Chicago. For more information about Radical Honesty, visit http://www.radicalhonesty.com or call 800-EL-TRUTH.