All CEOs need an office with four walls, a ceiling, and a door that locks.
ADAGE
Be Discreet
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RESPONSE
All CEOs need an office with four walls, a ceiling, and a door that locks. Trying to manage a global enterprise out of an open cubicle is reckless and inefficient. There are daily conversations on issues ranging from pricing to employee evaluations, competitive conflicts, customer problems, and cash flow crises that should be private. Open-door policies should not be encouraged, especially unscheduled drop-ins or employees going around their superiors with an axe to grind. Open-book policies should be replaced with need-to-know policies. Maintain silence in compiling plans and evaluating results. Ambiguity and subtlety are necessary ingredients for operational success. Transparency is highly valued by modern leaders, encouraging honesty and openness in business operations., prudence is necessary to protect against malicious actions, not to hide them. Christians openly discuss their failings among themselves to seek guidance and spiritual growth. However, in business, solitude and thinking in isolation are essential for clear execution. Not everyone will understand, so just do the right thing and trust God.
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Proverbs 11:13 (NASB) He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
QUESTIONS
Can you still command trust and loyalty with your employees if you limit what you share or reveal? Explain.
You have been notified that a major account will not renew their contract in three months. The loss of the account will require a large layoff. There is a chance you may replace the business with another account. But in the meantime, should you notify your employees of the potential layoffs? Explain.
Do Christians have additional moral obligations when sharing enterprise information?
Are our employees, vendors, and competitors the same as our church brethren? Explain.
DOWNLOAD
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