KEO: Know Everything Ordinarily Acronyms are so easy to come up with, so let’s add one more to our every growing list. Besides its less to type with your thumbs. Since most of us seem to be doing more thumb typing these days than talking or being at our office computer.

Does anyone even have a desktop anymore? Knowing everything might seem ideal, especially for a leader. One might think that if you know it all, and always have an answer, then you garner respect and admiration from those around you. This thinking is somewhat archaic.  I would even venture to say, it’s equivalent to creating a “following”.

Do you want followers or thinkers in your organization? Do you want those who just listen then sink back to their cubicle wishing they had spoken up or had been given the airspace to do so? It’s been a slow process for me to learn that NOT always having an answer has actually allowed my team to think, jump in with their answers, and more important seek out more than one correct answer.

Digging a bit more, and becoming resourceful, is an amazing tool. Doing things the same way not always is the best way!  Ideally I want to nurture and help foster an environment of thinkers. I want to create decision makers who have the confidence to be change makers. I have also found that by not always speaking up and  stating what I think is the “authorative answer” allows me to also listen and take in other options and opinions.

By not being a KEO, I believe it’s made me a better CEO.