Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge

by Henry Cloud

So, think about this question: How much do you open up to outside sources of information, feedback, support, energy, expertise, etc.? Your answer might reveal why you feel stuck and why the laws of physics have been working against you. The closed system you’ve created is winding down and getting messier. So what can you do? My advice is to plug in to sources outside of yourself and your organization. Get coaching, join a leadership group or forum, avail yourself of continuing education, attend a leadership conference, and so forth. The best leaders and organizations I know make use of outside sources for coaching and lifelong learning in a very organic fashion. One of my client companies, for example, regularly sends its upper level leaders to experiences like Harvard Business School’s executive programs. They also require and fund outside leadership coaches for their executives. Open system change is integral to their culture, and you can see it working. They are growing every year—not just their business, but the leadership talent as well. And that is what is driving the business growth. The physics are clear: close down, and get worse. Or, open up and get better.