Comments on: Great Leaders Admit When They Don’t Know

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:36:29 +0000

@Michael: Great leaders have to have the “balls” to be this truthful. Otherwise, I'm not sure they qualify as great leaders.

As for our leaders…well, I think they speak for themselves in terms of “greatness” *chuckle*

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 02:36:29 +0000

@Michael: Great leaders have to have the “balls” to be this truthful. Otherwise, I’m not sure they qualify as great leaders.

As for our leaders…well, I think they speak for themselves in terms of “greatness” *chuckle*

By: Michael (Project Responder)

Michael (Project Responder) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:01:58 +0000

If only our leaders had the balls to actually be so truthful. I also agree with several of the comments which have been expressed here as well regarding decision by committee. The honesty issue is one reason that even as a conservative, I would and will vote for Obama should he win the DNC nomination because I believe he is the most honest and truthful candidate we've had the chance to vote for in a long, long time.

By: Michael (Project Responder)

Michael (Project Responder) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:01:58 +0000

If only our leaders had the balls to actually be so truthful. I also agree with several of the comments which have been expressed here as well regarding decision by committee. The honesty issue is one reason that even as a conservative, I would and will vote for Obama should he win the DNC nomination because I believe he is the most honest and truthful candidate we’ve had the chance to vote for in a long, long time.

By: Dawud Miracle

Dawud Miracle — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:53:38 +0000

Without a doubt this is true. A true leader, in my opinion, simply has the stomach to take responsibility for everything placed in their care. What true leaders do not have is all the answers. And the best leaders surround themselves with people who know more than they do. Just ask anyone who's been successful.

By: Dawud Miracle

Dawud Miracle — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:53:38 +0000

By: Is Your Ego The Perfect Size To Be a Great Leader? : Instigator Blog

Is Your Ego The Perfect Size To Be a Great Leader? : Instigator Blog — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:24:51 +0000

[...] Smith paints a beautiful picture of the healthy ego when he talks about humility. Remember: great leaders don’t have all the answers. “Humility has a reputation of being the polar opposite of excessive ego. In fact, the exact [...]

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:54:27 +0000

Scot – I hear you completely. Of course, the one problem with the strategy you propose is it can lead down the slippery slope of “decision by committee.”

I'm a firm believer that a leader should and can take the feedback of others into consideration, but at the end of the day, the decision is with the leader. And, they have to be careful about overly weighing any one opinion or voice in their decision making process.

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:54:27 +0000

Scot – I hear you completely. Of course, the one problem with the strategy you propose is it can lead down the slippery slope of “decision by committee.”

I’m a firm believer that a leader should and can take the feedback of others into consideration, but at the end of the day, the decision is with the leader. And, they have to be careful about overly weighing any one opinion or voice in their decision making process.

By: Scot Herrick

Scot Herrick — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:04:23 +0000

I'd also offer: "I don't know enough to take a position; have you done research on that?"

One of the things a leader can do is engage the right people, listen, and then come to a decision that is a combination of different opinions. The key is to get all the opinions out there so that people have their say and believe that they contributed to the decision one way or the other.

Much of the decision-making today is simply expedient. It's a fast IM, a quick phone call, and a decision is made even though the leader still doesn't know.