No surprises.

This has been a common theme I’ve experienced with several bosses, and Boards I’ve reported to, and one in particular who even warned me against planning a surprise birthday!

The only bad news is late news, or worse, a surprise.

If there’s a problem, or if it looks like a problem is looming, call it out. The earlier it’s in the open, the earlier the team’s collective horsepower can be applied to addressing it, and the sooner it becomes a consideration used to inform business decisions.

Seeing this applied in practice is a good lesson in the value of trust, communication and true teamwork. The sooner this becomes just a part of how you operate, personally and professionally the sooner you’ll see the benefits.

The full list of my 10 Boss Lessons is here.