[April 5, 2022] The first article I wrote for my blog addressed the issue of leaders living in a fishbowl.1 By that, I meant that leaders at all levels who work in high visibility, highly competitive organizations are best served if their public and private life are open for everyone to see. This is a controversial view.
At the time of my writing, I was still a senior U.S. Army officer. In my personal experience, being in charge of 17,000 Soldiers and civilians was challenging and rewarding. I’d found that I was more highly respected for living my life openly and without fear of hiding my private life.
My openness that helped drive a high level of respect had several benefits, only a few that I identified. The first was that honest; minor mistakes would be handled without fanfare. Second, since we are not exempt from our organization’s code of conduct, people are more likely to help keep us in line with them.
There are other advantages. My favorite was that I had the incentive always to tell the truth and say what I understood to be the facts. Lying would be out of the question because my Soldiers would be able to see through any lie quickly. Telling the truth and people knowing that I told the truth – both the good and the bad – gave my troops confidence whenever I made a promise.
Not all leaders adopt this ‘living in a fishbowl’ leadership philosophy. That is where the controversy comes in. Some are very closed about their personal life to anything outside their work environment. They will not socialize with anyone from their organization. They believe, and there is merit to their thinking, that by doing so, they will somehow develop personal relationships that unfairly influence future personnel decisions.
Leadership styles come in various forms, and each leader must figure out their style. Mine has always been to spend a great deal of time walking about, talking to those who work for me, listening carefully to their concerns, and making sure I fulfill any promise I make. It works.
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Please read my new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here).
Great article and one that I’ve been thinking about for a while. I’m in particular worried about why our President is keeping his personal affairs hidden. Just like Pres Obama who refused to release his school records. What? Do they have something to hide or are ashamed of showing? Of course. Hide reality from the kids. Yep! 😊
Well said Desert cactus. ✔
A relook at this important topic. Well done and some great comments too. This is my favorite “go to” leadership website. First thing I read each morning.
A great throwback article. Well written.
Read this article from a Pastor’s wife. You will appreciate the idea that is being proposed here as a better form of living. Titled “Our Goodwin Journey: A journey of life and work in Africa.”
https://ourgoodwinjourney.com/living-fish-bowl/
Beautiful article, thank you Mr.John for highlighting it for us.
I’m a High School teacher … I think most of you who read Gen. Satterfield’s leadership forum know that already. As a HS teacher, I use what Gen. Satterfield is calling living in a fishbowl leadership. My life is open for everyone to see. Now some of my colleagues say what I do is stupid, but as noted in this article there are many advantages. And, there are more than we easily see. It makes my job easier too. Go figure.
Thanks Mr. TJ. I like the idea that folks are more tolerant of someone who is open about their life. I think this applies to everyone and not just to leaders.
“Living Life in a Fishbowl” https://garhwalpost.in/living-life-in-a-fishbowl/
Good article worth reading to understand the plusses and minuses of living in a fishbowl.
Hi Gen. Satterfield. I enjoyed today’s article! 😊😊😊😊😊
Don’t we all.
I just bought your book on Amazon, Gen. Satterfield. I expect to have it by tomorrow. Please let us know when you next book will be coming out. 👍
Glad you did, I bought mine a month and gave it to my sister. She loved it.
If you’ve not read the book, you are missing out.
Another excellent article, Gen. S. I forwarded your article (and the old one too) to my brother in Chicago. He wrote me back saying that he wished the mayor of Chicago should adopt this approach and maybe lessen the hatred she has created for herself.
Maybe she should adopt some humility.
https://washingtonews.today/index.php/2021/12/21/chicago-mayor-lori-lightfoot-admits-failure-calls-for-federal-help-to-stop-violent-crime-from-destroying-city/
Gen. Satterfield, I agree with you that ‘living in a fishbowl’ philosophy of leadership is not for everyone but I have discovered personally that it works great for junior leaders, and less so for senior leaders. Just a thought.
I think Gen. Satterfield is saying that this is less a type of leadership than a method to make your leadership work better without having to worry about the ankle bitters that all organizations have (little people with small brains that are envious of anyone who has something they don’t have).
Sounds like the typical socialist/Democrat/Communist you find everywhere these days. Always envious and wanting to destroy success. They never actually grew up. Dumber than a stump.
Good discussion. I would like to see Gen. Satterfield expand upon this idea. Lots to learn about it. I’d not read his article before, I missed it, but I read it again this morning. Lots to learn and appreciate with this form of leadership.
Maybe they should try it out and see how it works. The problem, with using this philosophy of leadership, is that it is hard to go back.