Does a leader recognize he or she is insulated (or dare I
say isolated) or surrounded by gatekeepers?
I have been in situations where all those surrounding the leader are
gatekeepers who do not provide the leader with an accurate view of
reality. When, as a leader, do you begin
to believe that you do not need to keep access to those who will “speak the
truth in love?” Or when do you think “oh,
these five/six people are giving me ALL the information I need?!”
At what point does your ego take such precedent that you
honestly believe that those reporting to you always give you the untainted
truth? Is it when your power gets so
great that people have too much to lose if you are disappointed, angered, or
upset?
I remember as a new parent making a pledge to myself to not
be concerned about the little things because if you freak out about the little
things, you’ll never learn the big things.
Is that an applicable line of thinking for a leader as well?
I would rather have individuals who will tell me the truth
so I’m not blindsided by something that has been bubbling rather than a bunch
of “yes” men who have created lives based on a make-believe world!