"Truth Takes Work"

'Truth takes work. If you are going to tell the truth, then you have to spend some time to get the facts right.  I’ve worked with some very smart bosses who have bought into what I think is a leadership myth – that great leaders are always focused on the “big picture” future and don’t allow themselves to get sucked into day to day issues.  You can’t tell the truth during “bad times” unless you are close to the ground and have shifted much of your focus to the here and now.'

The above quote comes from a CEO I know, and is striking to me. I've been talking to a number of executives lately about how much "transparency" is necessary to communicate to people during tough times like these and the best ways to do it.  This CEO's  comment as is a reminder that, just because someone is a senior executive, does not mean that he or she knows what is happening in the company.  Some are so externally focused and so enamored with giving big speeches, meeting important people like themselves, doing giant deals without getting in the weeds, and serving on boards, that they really have no idea what is happening in their own companies.  Times like these reveal these posers.

Comments

[JC-Auto sales]

Honesty is still the best policy this is what is all about:-)

[Apolinaras "Apollo" Sinkevicius]

Truth is much easier if you practice "open-book" management. There is plenty of studies out there showing that if you treat your employees like adults, they are very likely to act like adults (even when times are tough).

[jho87]

It is true that CEO's own the company but sometimes have no idea what is going on. This is a great quote and very representative of the times.

[Kim-free information exchange]

I believe transparency is very important inside the company or organization. It helps avoid and resolve a lot of disputes.

[Shaun Kieran]

Maybe it’s just the way my brain works, but after I read a few of these posts I’m always thinking, how the heck does anything get done at all with so many people oblivious to how they’re coming across, the effect their words and behavior have on others - plus all that wasted time and energy?

It turns out that all that acting, posturing, preening, rewarding acolytes, punishing non-supporters, etc. is a major feature of humans in groups going back to the dawn of civilization. Our hominid ancestors got it all cranked up for us.

“Big personalities” are compelling, and strike deep chords for most. Yes, some of us are more detached, or skeptical, or sophisticated, or worldly-wise – but it isn’t clear at all that it actually makes us better leaders, let alone employees.

Work performance resides in a different part of the brain. I’ve seen many laughably ridiculous narcissistic types be very effective leaders – when there was a good match between organizational mission and the particular leadership qualities.

I prefer earnest learners myself – but they don’t always make good leaders.

Thanks for the thoughtful thread.

Shaun

[Srinivas Raman]

Bob, Another quote relevant to the post is by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "In order that all men may be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all should learn to hear it." Creating a culture where all learn to hear (and speak)the truth is also paramount.

[Murthy]

Very wise quote indeed. One adtl comment I would offer is that one should not inadvertently dismiss different sources of truth - truth can come from both within the organization as well as from customers, analysts, and other outside stakeholders. So I would debate whether one specific source was better or worse than any other.

The key to leadership is to be maniacally obsessed with acquiring truth and disseminating it appropriately to the necessary parties. I think the great myth of those who are perhaps less confident in their leadership strength is that somehow withholding information, whether that is withholding from customers, from shareholders, or from employees is somehow beneficial to the power of the leader. And although there is probably a handful of examples where this true (i.e. don't tell your competition what you're up to), in general, the truth does in fact set you free, and those with the confidence to speak it find themselves with far more followers than those who lack it.

[Rodney Johnson]

Bob, I always find it interesting that CEOs like to make big things happen, yet its always the little stuff that gets them in trouble and potentially sinks them.

[Bobsutton]

Wally,

I love that.

Bob

[Wally Bock]

I love the quote from Woody Morcott, CEO of the Dana Corporation: "Why did we hire 55,000 brains and only use three of them?"