Have you ever seen someone interviewed, whether a CEO or politician, who was unwilling to answer anything but soft-serve questions? Or, more often, dance around a question without answering it at all. That is not a characteristic of someone who is or will be a strong leader. Significant leaders are willing to answer tough questions.
I remember watching my father being interviewed on the local news station during the height of the Vietnam War. At the time, he was in charge of a division for the Air Force that handled ordinance effectiveness and facility survivability. The reporter was grilling him about casualty numbers and how he felt being involved in a very unpopular war. I remember The Colonel’s response almost verbatim. He said, “I understand how many people feel, but I have a job to do. My team is designing ordinances (bombs) that have the maximum effect on the target with minimal damage to civilians and the peripheral area – while we are also designing facilities (bunkers) that can be constructed quickly to protect our troops from harm on the ground. So, we are working hard to end this conflict quickly and bring our young boys home safely.”
After the interview, I said, “I didn’t like that man. He was mean to you.” Dad replied, “He wasn’t being mean. It’s his job to ask the tough questions. What kind of a leader would I be if I couldn’t handle tough questions? There are LOTS of people, kiddo, who don’t believe in this war. It’s my job to have thick skin and provide the answers to those tough questions.”
Being in a leadership position will inevitably put you in a situation wherein you have to face tough questions. They may not be about war, the economy, or political issues, but they may be about someone’s job, their annual review, their home, or their livelihood. You always need to be ready for them. Plan ahead. How are you going to prepare yourself to maintain your composure, remain respectful, and answer honestly? Because, as a leader, answering the tough questions is part and parcel of the job.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.
