Page 120 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

You Accept the Need to Stand Out and Be Visible • 101

I noticed one of our businesses was losing $250 million over the last
four years. Problem was [that] the current CEO came from that busi-
ness, so no one would speak up. I did.
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To get noticed early on, speak your mind. If you follow blindly, you’ll
never get noticed. Articulate your view without being personally
offensive. You’re doing something right if you can get someone to
think differently, especially if it’s a superior.
Argue with your boss. Constructively fight for your project/company/
team; debate for the betterment of the organization. Be frank but in a
respectful manner. Speak low-keyed. Don’t be agitated, excitable, angry,
or hostile or engage in a verbal gunfight. (That would create the equal
and opposite effect: people avoiding anything to do with you.) The person
who makes you mad controls you. That is not your objective here.
During the discussion, listen to what the boss advances. Present
your point of view in such a manner that he or she listens to what you
advance. Then you both advance to some sound thinking.

Stick to your convictions, but not so that you are perceived as being
negative.

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Don’t be afraid of confrontation—but don’t overdo it either. Never
whine, but figuratively kick and scream, insist and demand. Don’t be
a sniper, or a politician while doing it. Hold strong beliefs and have
the confidence to risk being wrong. It’s worse to be a sycophant wait-
ing to see which way the wind blows, reluctant to step up with a point
of view. Be confrontational—be reasonable—with a smile.

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Early in my career, I had a bad boss, and I told him, “You’re not a
natural jerk, but you’re getting practice in it. No one likes you. You
will be universally hated if you don’t change. You lose your temper
without cause, and you’re a screamer.” His jaw dropped. He sat there
stunned, and then he said that he didn’t know that, no one had ever