Honesty is not a value to put on the wall. It is a behaviour, a skill and a choice leaders must practise every day. Dom Thurbon is an entrepreneur, researcher, writer and speaker who has spent nearly 20 years helping leaders and organisations change behaviour through disruption. He has built and sold two global businesses, worked as a partner at EY, co-founded Alchemy Labs and written several publications. 

Dom explains why truth is so difficult inside organisations, how silence becomes a form of dishonesty, and why leaders must go first. He reveals how cultures gradually drift away from honest conversations, often without anyone intending it. The result is frustration, disengagement and problems that grow larger because nobody feels safe enough to speak up. 

Dom says that honesty is not simply a value to aspire to but a skill that must be learned and practised. He challenges leaders to stop seeing themselves as passengers in culture and instead recognise their role in creating it, one conversation, one decision and one behaviour at a time. 

Takeaways 
Truth is not a value; it is a skill leaders practice. 
Silence often causes more damage than outright dishonesty ever does. 
People frequently choose acceptance and belonging over difficult honest conversations. 
Every interaction teaches others what behaviour is acceptable and rewarded. 
Small problems become major failures when truth is repeatedly ignored. 
Leaders create honest cultures by demonstrating vulnerability and going first. 
No news rarely means good news; it often signals fear. 
Honest organisations are built through behaviours, not values statements alone. 

Follow Dominic Thurbon 
https://domthurbon.com/ 

Dominic’s book 
To Be Honest: How making truth happen builds better businesses, lives and societies https://amzn.com/1923186434 

Books recommended 
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Pat Lencioni https://amzn.to/43Sruho
Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky https://amzn.to/440O87a 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

Enjoying the show? Leave a review 

Honesty is not a value to put on the wall. It is a behaviour, a skill and a choice leaders must practise every day. Dom Thurbon is an entrepreneur, researcher, writer and speaker who has spent nearly 20 years helping leaders and organisations change behaviour through disruption. He has built and sold two global businesses, worked as a partner at EY, co-founded Alchemy Labs and written several publications.&nbsp;
Dom explains why truth is so difficult inside organisations, how silence becomes a form of dishonesty, and why leaders must go first. He reveals how cultures gradually drift away from honest conversations, often without anyone intending it. The result is frustration, disengagement and problems that grow larger because nobody feels safe enough to speak up.&nbsp;
Dom says that honesty is not simply a value to aspire to but a skill that must be learned and practised. He challenges leaders to stop seeing themselves as passengers in culture and instead recognise their role in creating it, one conversation, one decision and one behaviour at a time.&nbsp;
Takeaways&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Truth is not a value; it is a skill leaders practice.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Silence often causes more damage than outright dishonesty ever does.&nbsp;</li>
<li>People frequently choose acceptance and belonging over difficult honest conversations.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Every interaction teaches others what behaviour is acceptable and rewarded.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Small problems become major failures when truth is repeatedly ignored.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Leaders create honest cultures by demonstrating vulnerability and going first.&nbsp;</li>
<li>No news rarely means good news; it often signals fear.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Honest organisations are built through behaviours, not values statements alone.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Follow Dominic Thurbon <a href="https://domthurbon.com/">https://domthurbon.com/</a>&nbsp;
Dominic&rsquo;s book To Be Honest: How making truth happen builds better businesses, lives and societies <a href="https://amzn.com/1923186434">https://amzn.com/1923186434</a>&nbsp;
Books recommended The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Pat Lencioni <a href="https://amzn.to/43Sruho">https://amzn.to/43Sruho</a> Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky <a href="https://amzn.to/440O87a">https://amzn.to/440O87a</a>&nbsp;
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books&nbsp;<a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/made-to-thrive/"> Made to Thrive:</a> The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded/">Onboarded:&nbsp;</a>How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded-for-managers-book/">Onboarded for Managers:</a> Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/bigger-isnt-better/">Bigger isn&rsquo;t Better, Better is Better:</a>&nbsp;Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)&nbsp;
Follow me:&nbsp; on <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a>&nbsp; on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.