The C-Suite Window Washer

James R. Rector
Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal

The higher a leader rises, the foggier the view can become. Access filters reality. Schedules filter people. Success filters feedback. The job of the leader is to keep the glass clear.

Clean the window with direct contact. Sit with customer support for an hour each month. Call three clients yourself each quarter. Visit the front line without an entourage. The closer you are to reality, the sharper your judgment.

Clean the window with fresh questions. What surprised you this week. What did we learn that changed our mind. Where are we fooling ourselves. Simple questions, asked often, strip away residue.

Clean the window with dissent. Invite a rotating red team to challenge the plan. Publish what they changed. When truth improves the strategy, people will bring more of it.

A clear view doesn’t flatter. It reveals. That is how leaders steer well at speed.

At Home

Families need clear windows too. If children only show their best side or parents only hear what they want, misunderstandings pile up. Honest questions, direct time together, and space for disagreement keep the family view clear-so decisions at home reflect reality, not illusion.

About the series: The 3-Minute Leader™ is a weekly micro-essay for emerging and promotable executives.