Knowledge, communication and culture
by Miki Saxon-
It never ceases to amaze me how often managers state strong views from positions of extreme ignorance—and consider their positions/comments invincible. Minor details such as facts, documentation, surveys, articles, etc., in no way sway them from the stand they've taken. They seem to thing that any change they make in a public statement will be taken as a sign of weakness by those around them, especially subordinates.
How wrong they are.
Excellent managers don't just listen, but also truly hear what is said; and they are totally comfortable using phrases such as:
- I don't know.
- Tell me more.
- Educate me.
- Please explain.
- What do you think?
- Let's discuss it.
- I was wrong.
None of us knows everything about any given topic, no matter how narrowly defined, nor creative enough to think of every possible shading, tangent, ramification or repercussion applicable to, or stemming from, it.
It's an old saw that the way to managerial success is to hire people smarter than yourself, but once they are hired you need to create a culture where they will be heard.
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