Confronting Brutal Facts

There is a charter school dear to my heart that is losing at least half its staff every year. Until this school faces the "brutal facts" of the common denominator(s) as to why staff are leaving it will never move from a good to great school as Jim Collins explains in his book Good to Great.

Collins explains that leadership must create a climate where truth is heard and the brutal facts are confronted. He suggests that the following things will help:

• Lead with questions to gain understanding rather than answers.

"So, what's on your mind?"

"Can you tell me about that?"

"Can you help me understand?"

"What should we be worried about?"

• Engage in dialogue and debate, not coercion, to search for the best answers.


• Search for understanding and learning, rather than blame.


• Build "red flag" mechanisms to gather information that can't be ignored.

Brutal facts addressed appropriately can make the organization stronger and encourage everyone in it to prevail in their commitment. If brutal facts are not addressed people will be demotivated and choose to leave.