“The higher you rise, the quieter it gets.”
This is a reality many top executives face daily. In my work with CEOs, board members, and entrepreneurs, one pattern consistently emerges: the higher they climb, the less they receive unfiltered, honest feedback.
The loneliness at the top is no myth, it’s a lived experience. Employees and even partners hesitate to deliver uncomfortable truths. Fear of consequences creates a dangerous filter: leaders often only hear what is politically correct, rarely what is real.
But here’s the paradox: in a world defined by volatility and complexity, courageous truth-tellers are indispensable. Without them, blind spots grow and poor decisions multiply.
What Top Performers Say About Honest Feedback
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft (2014–today): “Leaders have to be open to feedback. Without feedback, you stop learning, and when you stop learning, you stop leading.” (Source: Nadella, Hit Refresh, 2017)
Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam Champion: “Criticism is a gift. The hardest lessons I’ve learned on court were from people who told me what I didn’t want to hear.” (Source: Williams, interview with Forbes Women’s Summit, 2016)
Bruce Springsteen, Musician and Songwriter: “Surround yourself with people who will tell you when your song sucks. That’s how you get better.” (Source: Springsteen, interview in Rolling Stone Magazine, 2007)
Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo: “When you assume positive intent, you build trust. And with trust, feedback becomes a dialogue, not a confrontation.” (Source: Nooyi, Fortune Global Forum Keynote, 2008)
Across business, sports, and art the truth remains: unfiltered feedback is a catalyst for greatness.
The Mole Strategy: A Controversial Tactic
In my conversations, some leaders admitted to using what I call the “Mole Strategy.”
Not espionage, but strategically placing employees in key positions to capture what’s really being said on the ground. These individuals act as quiet listeners, surfacing truths that rarely make it to the boardroom.
Used wisely, it can reveal blind spots and reconnect leaders with organizational reality. But beware: lean too far into secrecy, and it becomes surveillance. Trust breaks, and leadership collapses.
The Foundation: Trust
At its core, leadership is not a solo endeavor. Trust is the foundation.
Leaders who create psychological safety and invite candor don’t just hear the truth, they build cultures where people thrive. And thriving cultures innovate, adapt, and outperform.
5 Leadership Insights & Practical Tips
1. Proactively Invite Feedback – Don’t Wait for It
Create regular structures (monthly “Ask Me Anything” sessions, anonymous digital feedback channels, or leadership office hours) where employees can share openly.
𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝⚡️𝙏𝙞𝙥: Don’t just ask “Do you have feedback?” formulate questions like “What am I missing?” or “What could we do better?” This narrative unlocks honesty.
2. Model Vulnerability to Build Safety
When leaders admit they got a decision wrong, it sets a tone: mistakes are not fatal, they are learnable. Share stories of failures and what you learned from them. Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s the foundation of psychological safety. Employees mirror what they see at the top.
3. Diversify Your Inner Circle of Truth-Tellers
Many leaders only hear from the same advisors. Build a “feedback cabinet” of diverse voices: people from outside your industry, rising talents in your company, even critics. By mixing perspectives, you reduce blind spots and expand your decision-making radar.
4. Reward Openness
When someone dares to speak truth to power, recognize it. Public praise signals safety to others, while private appreciation deepens trust. Make it visible that candor has currency in your organization. Otherwise, silence will always feel safer than truth.
5. Listen Between the Lines
Feedback isn’t only in words. It’s in tone, silence, and behavior. Leaders need to pay attention to body language, hesitation, or recurring “small issues” that are brushed aside. These often point to bigger truths. Active listening means catching what people are not saying as much as what they are.
Final Word
The higher you rise, the more deliberate you must be about staying grounded in reality. Surround yourself with people who hold up the mirror. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Because leadership is not about hearing what you want, it’s about hearing what you need.
🔥 Get in touch if you want to level up your leadership skills and build unshakable perseverance.
Together, we’ll transform obstacles into growth catalysts and help you step into the strongest version of your leadership.
