CEO = Self-Deception

Further evidence is presented in the September Harvard Review... CEO's often think their leadership team is doing better than the senior members of that team. When assessed on the following questions, CEO's reported the team as doing much better than the mean of the other senior members of their team:

• The Team is effective overall?
• Decision-making processes are clear
• Team deals well with conflict
• Members put the welfare of the organization above interests of their own divisions or functions
• CEO provides effective direction for the team.

The study is really nothing new, but it still reinforces the challenge for all leaders: Staying in touch with reality when most of your direct reports will sugar-coat what they tell you.