Leadership Learning from Plato: Quote #3 - Speak the Truth
- Peter F Gallagher
- Dec 22, 2025
- 3 min read
Plato (c. 427–347 BCE), alongside his teacher Socrates and student Aristotle, is a foundational figure of Western philosophy. His dialogues explored ethics, politics, metaphysics, and knowledge. For over two thousand years, his wisdom has shaped our understanding of truth, courage, integrity, and moral purpose, qualities that remain essential for leadership today.
Prelude:
Every journey of leadership demands honesty. Many leaders speak about change with polished language, but when truth threatens comfort, they retreat behind the illusion of progress. Plato reminds us that integrity is not proven by talking about change — it is revealed when leaders tell the truth, especially when it costs them something.
"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth." ~ Plato
Reflection:
True change leadership is not measured by ambition or rhetoric, but by the courage to confront reality. Honesty is rarely comfortable, and it often exposes the leader to resistance, criticism, or rejection. Yet without truth, there is no trust — and without trust, there is no transformation. The illusion of change is easy to sell; the courage to tell the truth is rare. Leaders who refuse the charade, who resist the temptation to seduce with comforting messages, become the moral anchors of their organisations. They choose clarity over popularity, responsibility over approval, and truth over convenience.
Application to Leadership of Change®:
Plato’s insight strikes at the heart of organisational change. People do not follow the most capable leader — they follow the one who tells them what they want to hear. This is why so many change efforts fail: leaders avoid the uncomfortable truth and hide behind slogans, frameworks, and the appearance of progress.
Change leadership demands honesty, not performance. It requires leaders to confront reality, challenge the status quo, and speak with moral courage even when the message is unwelcome. When leaders tell the truth with clarity and purpose, they create the conditions for trust, alignment, and genuine transformation. Integrity becomes visible in action, and the organisation learns that truth — not comfort — is the foundation of meaningful change.
"The change charade ends when leaders tell the truth with purpose, no matter the cost." ~ Peter F. Gallagher
Further Reading: Change Management Leadership - Leadership of Change® Volume 4.
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Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.
He works exclusively with boards, CEOs, and senior leadership teams to prepare and align them to effectively and proactively lead their organisations through change and transformation.
For insights on navigating organisational change, feel free to reach out at Peter.gallagher@a2B.consulting or schedule a free consultation
Peter F. Gallagher is a leadership guru, change management global thought leader, organisational change authority, international corporate conference speaker, 15X author, and C-level change leadership coach.
Listed #7 in the “Top 30” for Global Gurus Leadership (2025) by Global Gurus.
Ranked #1 Change Management Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Change Management (2025-2024-2023-2022-2021-2020) by Thinkers360.
Listed #1 by leadersHum Top 40 Change Management Gurus You Should Follow in 2022 (Mar 2022).
Ranked #1 Business Strategy Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Business Strategy (2025) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #6 Leadership Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Leadership (April 2024) by Thinkers360.
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