Bad news gets safer when leaders make it safe to share. Some of the most important information a leader receives begins with words nobody particularly wants to hear: “We have a problem.” “I noticed something.” “This doesn’t look right.” “I think we should stop.” In mining, construction, manufacturing, and engineering, a near miss can be a gift, but only if somebody feels safe enough to talk about it. The real danger isn’t bad news. It’s bad news that never reaches t

Good leaders make it safe to speak up early. World Humanitarian Day was this week, and one idea connected to humanitarian work has a lesson for every leader: early warnings matter only if someone is willing to hear them. In organizations, warning signs rarely arrive with flashing red lights. They show up as the employee who says, “Something doesn’t feel right.” The supervisor who notices fatigue creeping into the crew. The project manager who admits a deadline may be slipping

Good leaders face reality — then help people move forward. A few days ago, Jay and I hopped on a plane to fly to Haida Gwaii. We got all the way there, started our approach — and then the pilot had to pull out. The fog was simply too dense to land safely. Not the outcome we’d wanted. So, we spent the night in downtown Vancouver instead, and the next morning found ourselves walking along the oceanfront, enjoying a beautiful day we hadn’t planned for. It got me thinking about l