How many times
have we heard someone say that, or said it ourselves? It’s an expression we use
when someone overstates the obvious—a way of agreeing with what they just said.
But think about
it: How often do we actually say that, and mean it?
Over my years
as a business advisor and consultant, I’ve been struck by a simple truth: We
don’t know what we don’t know. We look for solutions, but we don’t know where
to look—or, in some cases, what we should be looking for.
Usually, that
comes from not asking the right questions. It’s important in business, as in
life, to look at ourselves and our circumstances honestly. Too often, we see managers
make the mistake of surrounding themselves with people who tell them what they
want to hear, instead of what they need to hear and what would be valuable for
them to hear.
How about you?
Do you have one or more trusted advisors who will tell you the truth? They
might be internal, such as key managers or associates, or external, such as a
business coach or a collection of peers in an executive networking group.
Wherever you can find them, it’s important to have your “go-to” people who can
help you assess your strengths and weaknesses and do something about them.
Too often I’ve
observed executives and managers who appear concerned about bringing in strong
people to work with them. It’s as if they are intimidated by people who have
skills they don’t have. They want to appear in control, and behave as if it
would be a sign of weakness to surround themselves with accomplished and
experienced professionals. Unfortunately, those are the people who end up
spiraling out of control.
Don’t make that
mistake. What can you do now, today, to start down a different path? Where can
you turn to learn from others and gain honest, valuable insights that will make
a difference for your business, and for you as a leader?
Jim Ondrus pioneered the management concept of Leadership Transitioning™. He is president of JA Ondrus, LLC, a Canton, Ohio executive coaching firm.
