When it’s been a tough week: honesty or spin?

We’ve all had them, those weeks that knock the wind out of you. A missed opportunity, an unexpected client loss, a launch gone sideways, a painful conflict. Whatever the cause, there are times when work feels heavier than usual. In those weeks, the pressure to spin positivity is real. I try not to.

Not because I believe in wallowing, or in dragging the team down by being a Debbie Downer. But because honesty is far more valuable and powerful than pretending things are better than they are.

Lessons are hiding in the hard weeks

Hard weeks don’t just hurt, they can also be learning opportunities. They illuminate blind spots, reveal what’s not working, and force clarity around what matters most, but only if we’re willing to face them directly.

As leadership expert Brené Brown puts it: “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” – Brené Brown, Dare to Lead

Being honest about a loss or a failure isn’t a weakness. It’s a commitment to learning. It’s saying: This didn’t go as planned. Let’s understand why so we can do better next time.

Simon Sinek reminds us: “The most effective leaders are the ones who can tell the truth, even when it’s hard, because that truth clears a path to progress.”

Lead with honesty and resilience 

Being honest doesn’t mean being dramatic or dwelling in negativity. It means acknowledging what’s hard, owning the impact, and offering a way forward.

You can say: “This was a really tough week. We didn’t hit the mark. But here’s what I’m doing to get us back on track and here’s how you can help.”

That kind of leadership invites ownership and builds a sense of safety. It tells your team that we can handle this together. Learning how to develop resilience in the face of adversity is one of the best gifts you can give your team and yourself. It also helps us focus on the most important things rather than engaging in discussions or activities that are not moving the needle.

Trust your team to rise to the occasion

Your team doesn’t need you to be endlessly upbeat. They need you to be transparent. When people understand what’s at stake, most will step up if they’re given the chance. But if they’re led to believe everything is fine, they’ll either be caught off guard later or continue under false assumptions.

That’s not just inefficient, but downright unfair.

Don’t hide the hard stuff, but instead be clear, candid, and real. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it builds a culture of trust, growth, and accountability.

Some weeks are tough. Losses are tough. But they’re not the end if you don’t let them be wasted. They’re often the beginning of the next chapter if we let them teach us.

What about you? How do handle communication when it’s been a rough week or two?