December 12, 2008

“I can look out the window and see the storm coming.   I want to know why no one told me a storm was starting to form.”

“Well, that’s primarily because you never allow us to publicly discuss risk or uncertainty.”

All of us are interested in knowing something of or about the future.  The old adage goes that predictions are only difficult when they involve the future.  Whether our concern is financial planning, some form of operations, weather forecasting, demand management, or parenting, we like to have fair warning of impending tempests. 

Unfortunately, there are those who find themselves too preoccupied or otherwise involved to see clouds forming.  Even more lamentable is the group that doesn’t care to know of gathering darkness.  Worse yet are those who choose to ignore any gloom that may be in the offing.  To them, even a portent of bad news is off limits.  

A company leader railed at us as we reviewed the next quarter’s forecast, “I can look out the window and see the storm coming.  I want to know why no one told me a storm was starting to form.”  None of us were prepared to hear the answer offered by the bright young financial analyst in the room, “Well, that’s primarily because you never allow us to publicly discuss risk or uncertainty.”

The words were a great reminder that good leaders lean into the wind.  They know of tumult that may loom and address it with action.  They provide for honest exchange.  All hands are called on deck.  Everyone pitches in to minimize damage and move forward.  Beating the storm is paramount.

For all of us in the room that day, we quickly noted a seismic change with an epicenter directly under the chair of our leader.  Only one prediction became certain:  earthquake.