selftransparent

Self-transparency, or self-transparent behavior, refers to the quality or practice of making one's own thoughts, motives, biases, and uncertainties accessible and intelligible to others. It involves sharing relevant aspects of one's internal state and reasoning in a manner appropriate to the context, while respecting privacy and safety constraints.

In interpersonal relations and teamwork, self-transparency can reduce miscommunication and foster trust by clarifying why a person holds a position or makes a decision. In leadership and organizational settings, transparent decision-making entails communicating assumptions, evidence, and trade-offs that underlie actions.

Cultivation and limits: people can develop self-transparency through structured reflection, journaling, seeking diverse feedback, and articulating explicit boundaries about what will be disclosed. Effective self-disclosure is timely, proportionate, and considerate of others' needs and organizational norms.

Criticism and considerations: excessive or inappropriate self-disclosure can undermine privacy, expose an individual to manipulation, or weaken professional boundaries. Cultural expectations, power imbalances, and the potential for disclosure to backfire should be weighed when applying self-transparency in practice.

See also: transparency; self-disclosure; epistemic humility; accountability.