In organizations today, many individuals work hard to stay in the “good books” of their CEOs. Decisions that later backfire often could have benefited from someone raising a concern - yet those concerns were never voiced. Why? Because some individuals focus more on gaining the CEO’s approval than on protecting the organization’s performance.

Given our work with CEOs across industries, we’ve seen this pattern repeatedly: Too many leaders are surrounded by people who tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.

These are the individuals who praise every idea, never challenge assumptions, and validate every decision. And when things go wrong, they are the first to distance themselves - or quietly move on - leaving the CEO alone to face the consequences.

But the people that CEOs truly need are very different:

• Those who courageously point out what is going wrong
• - Those who speak up when they see risks that could derail the organization
• - Those who challenge ineffective practices rather than conforming to them
• - Those who offer viewpoints different from yours - especially when those perspectives have the power to transform the organization

As a CEO, you need people who want your progress and the progress of the organization - people who become uncomfortable when something is heading in the wrong direction.

By all means, be a CEO who loves to hear the views of others, whether you agree with them or not.

Be a CEO who values honest feedback over empty praise.

Because praise-singing and adulation will never build a high-performance organization.

But feedback - when sought, welcomed, and acted upon - can transform everything.

As the CEO, always remember, not everything that can be counted truly counts.

If insights like this resonate with you, follow our company’s Linkedin page for exclusive CEO-level perspectives and actionable strategies to build high-performance, system-thinking organizations.

For further inquiries or to discuss how Mentoring Consult Ltd can support your organization’s strategic transformation, please contact us at transform@mclgroup.net or reach us via phone or WhatsApp at +372 5838 2595.