Does position sway judgment?

We commonly ascribe more truth, relevancy, and urgency to the opinion of those we deem to be more important than others. Believing that a boss has a vast understanding of every variable that goes into the success of our organization is understandable. But do they really know exactly what is going on?

The insights and opinions of high-ranking executives can be detached and uninformed due to their position of hierarchical authority. Let’s be honest; not everyone is honest with the boss. When asked how things are going, we might mechanically respond that all is good when, in fact, there are many changes that we can recommend.

Power and authority tend to separate the powerful from transparency and truth in an organization. Employees are hesitant to speak the truth to authority, fearing they may lose their jobs or offend an executive. Doing so creates an information vacuum that leaves the executive less informed.

If we only seek input from the highest-ranking leaders in an organization, we lose the insights of the employees most likely to understand what is really going on in their area.

The Bible tells us not to show partiality in our judgment, but rather, we should listen to “both great and small alike.” (Deut. 1:17)

There is an organizational phrase for this dynamic: Deference to Expertise - listen to those who are closest to the problem to identify the best solution.

We are well served to broaden our input network to ensure we communicate with all levels of the organization and have a well-rounded understanding of the variables involved.