A critical lesson that every executive or employee at all levels should take to heart: It’s Ok (in fact, good) to be challenged.
In the early years of building my company, I believed we were so far ahead in the cybersecurity market that no other company offered real competition.
But during a meeting, a team member challenged me. He argued that we had competition — that’s endemic in every industrial sector — and would only gain more in the coming years, so we needed to be prepared.
I felt stung at first but quickly realized I’d been telling myself an untrue story. And, that line of magical thinking could eventually have significantly impacted the company’s growth.
I needed a dose of reality, and even though it probably wasn’t easy for him to so openly disagree with the CEO, that team member gave me one.
And with that, I learned a critical lesson that I’ve carried ever since, one that I’d encourage every executive or employee at every level to take to heart.
I want my team to challenge me.Beyond a collaborative culture
To be sure, I’m no different from any other company leader in that I want and value people who support my vision and strategy. I’m proud of the blood, sweat and tears I’ve shed in my journey as CEO. And I don’t think just anyone has the knowledge and experience to do this job.
And yet, I still don’t know everything. Far from it. That’s why, in my tenth year as a CEO, I’m focused on one of my strongest personal priorities: To make sure every employee, no matter what level or years of experience, feels empowered to give their points of view on what they believe is best for the company.
