Should a Leader Share Everything They Know?
I’m writing this blog from Austin, Texas, where we are enduring yet another “once-in-a-century event.” My state that is built for temperatures above 100 degrees is experiencing one of the deepest freezes on record, causing multiple power generators to trip offline, with a major contributor being that our State is now dependent upon wind to generate about 23-25% of our energy and solar for another 2-5%. Many of these energy sources are not able to function in this cold weather. Unfortunately, many reliable traditional sources of electricity generation have been shut down and replaced by wind and solar generation. This has led to prolonged blackouts across most of the state, leaving millions stranded for days without a heat source while temperatures plunged to subzero temperatures. See chart below from the ERCOT website:
This has, justifiably, led to a lot of anger among Texans toward the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the non-profit organization that oversees Texas’ power grid. Residents are furious over their lack of transparency throughout the situation. Governor Greg Abbott has launched an inquiry into their handling of this unprecedented crisis.
People are beginning to wonder if this devastation of electrical power outages, water shortages, broken water pipes, deaths from homes burning as people use other methods to stay warm, closing of businesses, restaurants, and grocery stores, etc. is being contributed to by governmental poor decisions and planning, much like the Harvey flood events in Houston when decisions were made to open the Addicks Dam to avoid the potential of the dam failing, causing the worst flood in the history of Houston and untold property damage and loss of lives. People are wondering if this another government-generated catastrophe? This will most likely lead to even more loss of trust in our government and its leaders, because of the feeling that there has been a lack of transparency.
This situation has led me to consider one of the most difficult dilemmas facing individuals in a position of leadership. Do leaders have an obligation to share everything they know?
When in leadership, you are often privy to information that is sensitive or confidential. You might know when your company is facing economic hardships that will likely lead to layoffs, or in the case of ERCOT, you might know blackouts are likely days or weeks before a calamitous winter storm descends because of the changes made in the power generation system with no backup system available due to forced plant closings.
Leaders must walk the thin line of considering the well-being of those under their purview while not causing a mass panic. Here are some things you need to consider when faced with this type of decision:
Do I have a legal obligation to share or not share this information?
Will sharing this cause more harm than good?
Can the situation be rectified quickly without having to worry others?
Could sharing this information give others time to prepare for a crisis or make contingency plans to avoid the crises or reduce its impacts?
Is there anything others can do to change the outcome if they have the information?
Am I withholding information because it provides facts that others can use against my own agenda? In other words, are there inappropriate reasons for my non-disclosure and how will people view my credibility when the facts do come out (and they always do come out eventually).
In today’s day and age, we value transparency over almost all else. We’ve all dealt with too many situations where we trust those in leadership implicitly. However, leaders are entrusted with the task to protect those relying on them, and sometimes that means making very difficult decisions.
Contrary to popular belief, as leaders, we don’t have a crystal ball, so often we are just working with the best information we have at any given time. As such, you might get it wrong. When that happens, be humble and willing to learn from your mistakes. People are more willing to forgive someone who is honest about their struggles and admits that they are doing their best.
As a Christian leader, I believe the ultimate place to turn when faced with a difficult decision is to turn to God for wisdom and always maintain the utmost integrity. Seek Him in your decision-making and make a move only when you feel peace. That doesn’t mean something can’t go wrong, but you will be certain you are directly in the center of His will, and acting with the utmost integrity from the position that God has placed you in, which is the safest place for you, and the people you are leading and relying on you, to be.