Honesty. Trust. Accountability.
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
How far would your honesty extend?
Would you admit to a major mistake, fall on your sword and resign? Would you admit the truth and have confidence that you would be treated fairly for your mistake?
More than 50 years ago, Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM, said, “Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?”
That’s $5.2 million in today’s money.
Do you trust what Watson said would happen to you? I doubt it.
Most managers are too afraid of experiencing the consequences of accepting such a mistake. Too many leaders are, too.
And someone else will get the benefit of that education, just like Watson said.
How smart is that?
And what would you learn about being honest from that?
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2019
