Comments on: How to Stop Wasting People’s Courage

By: David Dye

David Dye — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 14:01:28 +0000

[in my best calm computer voice] Wow, Dave. That’s a great look at how trust breaks down. I particularly like your “trickle up” example. We call it “Ditching the Diaper Genie” – the tendency to wrap bad news in self-protective spin. It goes both ways (up and down): https://letsgrowleaders.com/2017/01/31/5-signs-the-diaper-genie-effect-is-destroying-your-culture/

Thanks for the contribution David – trust never goes out of style. And for the 2001 fans… I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t open the doors.

By: David Hunt PE

David Hunt PE — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 09:43:23 +0000

A nice piece. The message about candor sounds familiar, however.

From HAL’s Breakdown to Competitive Success
https://davidhuntpe.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/from-hals-breakdown-to-competitive-success/

By: David Dye

David Dye — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 16:16:52 +0000

In reply to K Buechler. K, thank you for sharing your experience. It is not uncommon. There is an art to sharing and challenging in cultures that don't value those behaviors. Often, this means framing the suggestions in terms of how it will help leaders achieve the organization's goals (as opposed to pointing out problems). For leaders, it means asking questions to get underneath what might be presented on the surface.

By: K Buechler

K Buechler — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 16:09:55 +0000

I believe you are right, that the courage to express ideas and contrary points of view may be in limited supply. I have been outspoken for several years: identifying weaknesses in management and offering possible solutions; expressing alternative points of view; challenging management on bad decisions. I believe these efforts have had a negative effect on my career. The most recent was interviewing with a committee for a promotion that I didn’t get. When I later asked one of those people on the committee what happened, their response was “It was a committee decision, but the committee didn’t make the decision.” I have given members of management multiple opportunities to discuss this and, each time, they declined to do so. As a result, I am losing my interest in the organization and finding it increasingly difficult to support their goals if they won’t support mine.