What If We Really Knew Their Thoughts?

How many times have leaders made bad things happen because they didn't know the truth of what their followers think?  All the time.

Not Knowing The Truth Is Dangerous.

These types of bad decisions and bad leadership happen all the time.  Some are nearly insignificant...

Hey do you want to go out to dinner?  Answer: Ok, (While thinking, 'No let's stay in').

Let's stay home and watch TV. Answer: Ok, (While thinking, 'I would rather go for a walk.')

But many are really bad leadership decisions and highly significant... 

Do you think we should pull these posts off of our platform we don't agree with?  Should we block the results of these searches?  Answer:  Sure, boss. (While thinking, 'No this is a bad idea. It's censorship. That's not what the 1st amendment is about...)

Should we force people to stay in their houses for another month? Answer: Sure, boss. (While thinking, 'No, this is a bad idea and has no scientific basis.  This is bordering on dictatorship. This will kill the economy and hurt more people than it helps.')

Should we invade Poland? Answer: Sure, Mein Fuhrer (While thinking, 'No you power-hungry idiot, you are going to get a lot of people killed.')

What's Happening Today?

There are many, many bad actions being put into place today by "leaders" because their followers are too afraid to speak up.  They are worried about the ramifications of telling the truth.  They are concerned they will lose their job.  But what they fail to consider is that their agreement with the bad policy of their leader may have many further ramifications than their job alone.

It may result in a slippery slope to censorship.

It may result in a slippery slope to fascism.

It may result in a World War.

What's This Have To Do With You?

If you are a leader ... you have the responsibility to actively seek out the real opinion of your staff, co-workers, followers and those impacted by the decision.  Don't assume they are telling you their real opinion. You can't read their minds. Ask for their honest opinion, and mean it.  

If you are a follower ... you have the responsibility to tell your leader what you really think. Don't just follow the leader if you don't agree. They can't read your mind. Let them know what you really think, respectfully. 

If you are a leader OR follower ... you have the responsibility to have meaningful dialog and discussion on the topics and issues you are working on, and for both to realize that neither the leader nor the follower, have a monopoly on the truth. Wisdom comes from consideration of all positions, not from you, or them, alone.

Would you make different decisions and act differently if you really knew other's thoughts?  

Have you ASKED others for their honest opinions? 

If not, why not? Are you afraid of what they might tell you?