In Susan Scott’s book, Fierce Conversations, she suggests that its our responsibility as leaders to interrogate reality. From the perspective of the silent problem phenomenon, she is absolutely correct. It’s simply too easy to accept the candy coated version we commonly receive as reality. Here is a case in point.
(From Bloomberg) Returning from China last month, U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk had a bearish take on a high-level visit by American officials. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner claimed the U.S.’s biggest creditor voiced great confidence in its debt. Kirk, an Illinois Republican, came back with the opposite impression.
It is our responsibility to interrogate reality. Until we do, a door is opened to potential silent problems of significant importance and potential harm.
