Layers of middle management filter information in both directions, making a fog of war that obscures critical issues. Managers must insist on getting unfiltered data from subordinates. In order to get the real story, management must create the conditions and consequences that cultivate truth-telling. Employees figure out very quickly what happens if they speak the truth. It takes consistent trust-building over time to sustain the flow of accurate information.
Open people attract good data.
I hope you enjoy success in your business. But when things are going well, watch out. Resist the urge to attribute good times to your own abilities. By staying teachable, thankful, self-aware and open, you can avoid stepping into the arrogance trap. If history is any indication, the odds are stacked against you.