ATG 230: Leaders Who Can't Be Questioned End Up Doing Questionable Things
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May 19, 2025
Leadership thrives on questionability; when leaders can't be challenged, questionable decisions follow. Discover how personal anecdotes highlight the pitfalls of a gap in communication between the boardroom and break room. The importance of constructive feedback emerges as a critical theme, emphasizing growth through honesty. A humorous story about a CEO's terrible Zoom lighting reinforces the necessity of truthful relationships in leadership. Ultimately, cultivating an environment where feedback is welcomed is essential for effective leadership at any level.
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Welcoming Questions Prevents Problems
Leaders who cannot be questioned often end up making poor decisions that harm their teams or organizations.
Encourage environments where honest feedback is welcomed to prevent questionable leadership behavior.
insights INSIGHT
Boardroom vs Break Room Dynamics
A frequent disconnect exists between leadership and team honesty, with public praise masking private criticism.
Employees may hold back honest feedback due to fear of job security.
insights INSIGHT
Honesty Edits for Job Security
Employees tend to reduce their honesty by about 15% to protect their job security.
This self-censorship happens because speaking up can feel risky financially and professionally.
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Want to know the simplest leadership principle that makes people elbow each other when I share it on stage? "Leaders who can't be questioned end up doing questionable things." In this episode, I'll share how the gap between the boardroom and the break room creates problems, why your team might be editing their feedback by 15%, and my embarrassing story about a CEO with terrible Zoom lighting (spoiler: everyone lied and said it looked great). Whether you're leading a company, a family, or just yourself, I'll show you how to create an environment where honest feedback thrives instead of dies. Because the higher you climb on the success ladder, the more opportunities you'll have to behave poorly, and the more you need people brave enough to tell you the truth.
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