3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Speaking Truth to Power
Open Door Policies, a True Answer & an Unfortunate Realisation
I. Open Door Policies
Open Door Policies encourage the average employee to speak truth to power. Without having to worry about the consequences of course. Because who doesn’t love to walk into their boss’ office to make some innocent suggestions?
For those who don’t, ex Navy-Seals and authors of Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, have some thoughts. While it sounded good, Willink suggests:
The open door policy doesn’t mean that anybody is going to walk in there. You gotta open the door and walk out. That would be my recommendation.
Put differently, an Open Door Policy doesn’t absolve a leader from taking ownership of “building better relationships” (Babin), which is necessary to create an environment conducive to open feedback.
Source: Leif Babin & Jocko Willink
II. A True Answer
Speaking truth to leaders and superiors has always carried an inherent risk. In 480 BC, Xerxes, king of Persia, invaded Greece. But he wanted to understand his enemy first. In a lacklustre attempt to implement an Open Door Policy, Xerxes summoned Demaratus, the exiled king of Sparta. When asked for his advice, Demaratus famously replied:
O king! is it thy will that I give thee a true answer, or dost thou wish for a pleasant one?
Do you want a true answer or a pleasant one? Xerxes chose the former. Nonetheless, he dismissed Demaratus’ warnings of the Spartans and their fierce fighting spirit — twice.
While he did win the war, Xerxes’ army suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Spartans. It goes to show that Open Door Policies also tend to be pointless if leaders ignore the unpleasant truths they learn.
Source: Mind of War Project
III. An Unfortunate Realisation
At the end of the day, bosses who aren’t serious about getting truthful advice from the people they lead must be careful not to end up like comedy legend George Carlin:
The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.
―George Carlin
🐘
Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com
P.S.: Check out my latest post on 16 German words with deep philosophical undertones.