There is fact. And then there is the truth. As a leader you must learn to distinguish between the two. Fact is simple. Truth is complex. Fact is one. Truths are many. Fact is a piece of information. Truth is how different people see that information.

Two cars collide on a busy street. Each driver gives a different account of the accident. “He rammed into me from behind”, says one driver. “Nonsense”, replies the other, “You braked too hard”. The funny part is, both are telling the truth, at least what they believe is the truth.

The recipe for truth is simple. You take a fact. Then you add a person to it. Let it marinate for a while and you have the truth. Take the same fact and mix it with another person, you get a different truth. As many people, as many truths.

A fact is colorless. But the truth is colored. It takes on the color of the people living that truth. It changes based on where they stand, their values, emotions, culture and hundred other things.

What applies to people also applies to groups. A new product offering fails. Talk to the marketing department, and they’ll blame the economy. Question the product team, and they’ll tell you about that one feature that shouldn’t have been dropped. Each looks at the world through their own lens.

Every problem, every conflict has facts and truths. A good leader uncovers the facts, but doesn’t ignore the truth either. Because each has a valuable insight to give. The facts tell you what happened. But the truth tells you something about the people it happened to. One is not complete without the other.

When trying to bring about change, don’t just look at data. Look at the people. Listen to the stories. The facts will help you take the right decision. But the truth will help you make that decision effective.