I watched her throw my brilliant email in the trash.

I watched her throw away my email.

I was the principal of the high school, and I had written a brilliant email to our faculty.

At least, I thought it was brilliant.

I don’t even remember what my big idea was, but I remember feeling really good about it.

So I showed the draft to my Assistant Principal.

She read it.

And then she threw it in the trash can.

I couldn’t believe it.

She looked at me and said, “It’s too long, and it’s not the right time.”

Ouch.

But she was right.

And looking back, I’m grateful she felt comfortable enough to tell me something I didn’t really want to hear.

That moment reminds me of two important leadership lessons.

First, teachers are busy. They are often overwhelmed, and they don’t need another unnecessarily long email from their principal. If you can say it in 100 words, don’t use 500.

Second, a good idea at the wrong time can still be a bad idea.

Leaders can get excited about the next initiative, program, change, or “brilliant” idea. But leadership isn’t just knowing what to do. It’s knowing when to do it.

But there was an even bigger lesson in that trash can.

Every leader needs people around them who are willing to tell them what they don’t want to hear.

Not people who disagree just to disagree.

Not people who complain about everything.

People who care enough about you — and the organization — to say:

“That’s too much.”

“This isn’t the right time.”

“I don’t think that’s going to work.”

Or maybe even…

“Throw that away.”

Do you have people around you who are comfortable telling you the truth?

And maybe the more important question:

Have you created the kind of relationship where they know it’s safe to do it?

Cheers!

Danny