Five Keys to Powerful Business Relationships: How to Become More Productive, Effective and Influential

KEY #4Share Information to Increase Your Personal Power

 

There is a proud and unfortunate history of people not sharing information—in all fields. Let’s examine a historical case in which unshared information led to confusion on the battlefield. During the American Civil War, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were considered the South’s two greatest generals. But their leadership styles were wildly different.

Although both generals were audacious and strategic, Jackson was almost paranoid about plans leaking to the enemy, so he ended up not sharing—sometimes even with his direct-report generals—exactly what was required of them in battle. Lee, ...