From Problem-Solving to Problem-Finding: Great Leaders Know How to Detect Smoke, Not Just Raging Fires

Gatekeepers’ keeping unwelcome information from reaching decision-makers is a very important challenge for leaders in all organizations. People at various levels in the organizational hierarchy filter information for various reasons. They make judgments about what information is required by their leaders to make key decisions. Leaders know that filtering takes place, and, to some extent, they welcome it. After all, they do not want to become overwhelmed with data; they want their advisors to synthesize and analyze key information for them. However, leaders should worry that they may be shielded from key problems by this filtering process. Without question, the most extensive filtering tends to take place with regard to bad news, disconcerting ...