Censor Random Remarks

Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. Mark 6:26

There are legendary stories about CEOs who wonder why their company has made a sweeping policy change. They discover that the change is the result of someone’s overhearing a random comment they’ve made and interpreting it as a categorical directive.

Herod told his daughter she could have anything she wanted. She asked for something he didn’t want to give her, but his authority couldn’t be challenged even when it meant beheading someone he respected.

Leaders cultivate obedience as a necessary component of getting things done. When you signal a turn, you want your team to turn, and most of the time, this is a good thing.

Here’s the caveat:

Your ability to steer the ship with a single command means that you can run it aground if your random comments are misinterpreted.

What you say in the elevator can become policy by tomorrow morning, so be careful what you say and where you say it.