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March 1, 2005

11:03 am | 0 recommendations | 4 comments

Confusion at Work

| posted by Heath Row

The Wharton Leadership Digest offers a solid piece about confusion in the workplace -- and whether leaders can still lead when they don't totally know what's going on -- or why. Among Kim Marshall's advice points:

  • Embrace your confusion
  • Assert your need to make sense
  • Structure the interaction
  • Listen reflectively and learn
  • Openly process your effort to make sense

How do you handle confusion in your work? Do you hide it?

Tags: Leadership
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Recent Comments | 4 Total

March 1, 2005 at 12:47pm

Anthony Wallace
With respect to this issue I've worked for, and been, both kinds of leader. Only the leader who tries to hide confusion remains confused. The other, while admitting confusion, tarnishes any image of omniscience that may have been cultivated, earns a level of trust, respect and loyalty that would not otherwise be attainable.
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March 1, 2005 at 10:56pm

Sarah
Anothony, it happens all the time to quite a few of us :) Heath, great leadership artile. Thanks for posting this link.
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March 2, 2005 at 11:58am

Jerry Wittig
Good article, and one many of us can relate to. I am reminded of the mantra from my former leader Jack Welch: "speed, simplicity, and self confidence". Speed in collecting the information required for quality decision making. Simplicity in terms of clarifying the problem and desired state so that everyone "gets it". Self confidence in recognizing "I don't have all the answers" but that I am confident we will find the path forward.
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March 2, 2005 at 1:38pm

mkjl
How about "I won't listen to rubbish"?
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