No Surprises Leadership

Posted by Joni Rose Mar 13, 2006

I think back fondly of the leaders that I've worked with that were a positive influence. They saw my talents and energy and gave me the room to make mistakes and learn from them. They didn't know how to micromanage as they were very comfortable trusting me to work hard with the caveat to come to them with questions when I felt unsure.

When I became a leader, I remembered the words from my father (the CEO) about leadership. He had a "No surprises" policy.

He told his staff that he didn't want to find out about something indirectly or after the fact. I found that this tip encouraged open, honest dialogue and motivated my reports to come to me with any mistake or problem. I worked with them to find solutions that empowered them and ensured a similar dialogue in the future.

I constantly work on my leadership competencies as there is always more to learn and improve on. It is easy to become complacent and let your ego get in the way of professional growth. I challenge myself to remain open to new ideas and perspectives as I read biographies of great leaders. It is no surprise that great leaders have learned from their mistakes and can pass on their learned wisdom.