The Founder’s Paradox: How to Get People to Tell You What They Really Think When They Are Afraid To

“What do you think?” This can be one of the hardest questions to answer. Especially in an all-company meeting, when the person asking is the founder or CEO. Silence is understandable — people may feel timid, worried about saying the wrong thing and looking foolish in front of their colleagues and other leaders. So, you get blank stares and tight lips. You truly want to know the answer, but people seem afraid to speak up.

I have experienced this in different ways at different points in my care...