Don't be this guy.

Blame then find out the facts.  It’s become the American way. We all get it: reaching for a headline, individuals are indicted in the media, who then are leapt upon by the masses.  Time after time, this scenario continues to pop up and with the anonymity of the internet, what used to be bad journalism has become blood sport.  Being tried in the media is one thing, but you know, we don’t have to buy into it.  No matter how sensational the headline, there is always more to the story.

Lest you think this is some scathing review of my buddy Dave's chosen profession, think again.  I am simply using it as a convenient analogy to focus on a leadership issue we are probably all familiar with. This would be the situation in which as officers or leaders, we find a problem, and in our haste to rain shit down on the heads of the offenders, fail to consider there might be a plausible explanation for the "error".

As usual, don't think that I am without blame.  Most of the things I write about I have myself engaged in throughout my career.  But I use this blog as a means to educate you all on things I have seen and see over thirty years on the job and hopefully, maybe, I can make a difference in your own careers.

So back from the disclaimer, I just want to make sure you understand that being appreciative of all the facts doesn't make you a weak leader.  In fact, your judicious use of power strengthens your hand.  If you strike a dog too many times, it will eventually turn on you.  Likewise, if you are too heavy-handed with the troops, they eventually come to resent you.  This can have farther reaching implications than you may ever realize, especially when there is that position you have always wanted and you don't get it because the people you supervise won't support you.  But that being said, the real reason for considering all sides before rushing to judgment is because it is a hallmark of "Just Leadership".

I said a while back that Capt. Tom over at EMS12Lead.com pointed me in the direction of the concept of "Just Leadership" as the root of a just organizational culture.  Phil LaDuke, who has a blog on the subject, really explains it well and I think this is a subject that a lot of leaders simply don't get.  From his blog:

Just leaders share characteristics that set them apart from the pack. These leaders see themselves as leaders first and foremost and they live their lives by a code of conduct that is set not be some artificial external criteria but by their personal values…A just leader is able to clearly articulate his or her values and institutionalize  those values into a work culture that is fair and just.

An integral part of just leadership requires an appreciation for the whole story, not just the part you want to hear.  Just leaders get to the heart of the matter in a rational, unemotional way and approach the development of solutions via time-honored means, like getting the people involved in the problem to solve the problem.  In doing so, they can understand the root cause better and they can learn to "fish for themselves".  This is truly transformational leadership.

I highly recommend looking further into each situation deeper before rushing to judgment.  At first you may find it to move slower than you choose, but ultimately, you will see that the outcomes are much fairer and better received by all involved, especially when your charges see that you aren't going to go off half-cocked at every challenge that comes along. And even better, the example you set will hopefully be seen and adhered to by others aspiring to lead, and they too will govern in a similar manner.  THAT is how we change our organizational culture for the better.