It was the right message. The off-site had made clear that IP had failed to hold its line managers accountable for maintaining a dialogue with employees. Being a messenger means being willing to deal with angry reactions. And getting involved means conflict. Collaboration does not occur in some happy world, where people always work in harmony.
Meaningful collaboration requires relationships that can take punishment.
Carol Roberts knows that she did the right thing by speaking up. Roberts couldn't have wished for a better outcome. But she's been around long enough to know that speaking up doesn't always guarantee a happy ending. When you try to take people in a new direction, you have to look back to see if they're still behind you. Before you open your mouth, advises Hornstein, think about the following hard-won lessons.