A Leader's Guide to Knowledge Management

Part 2

Leading Today’s Knowledge Workers

Chapter 4

Simple Ideas That Work in Complex Environments

I believe what I said yesterday.

I don’t know what I said,

but I know what I think, and, well,

I assume it’s what I said.

—Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

A time-honored consultant’s tactic is to ask executives what keeps them awake at night. The answer to this simple question often provides a clue as to the burning platform from which the seasoned consultant may offer advice on how to solve the executive’s problems. This does not always work, of course. John once witnessed a very experienced leader answer the question by saying, “My dog, my dog keeps me awake at night.” At first, he was taken back. John thought he must be kidding… ...