ABSTRACT
Over generalizing is what causes a leader who achieves stunning results in one high-stakes situation to be a poor advisor to others. To lead effectively—especially when there is much at risk—leaders need to see a situation, look for patterns, and look for distinctions. With those three pieces in place, judgment about what to do improves. This requires intentional thought. A dilemma that leaders sometimes find themselves in is the one that emerges when they discover employees doing things that clearly violate their company values and ethics. An organization where relationships are weak and ideas quashed is brittle and far more likely to end up in a crisis than one where people can tell you there is smoke before the fire engulfs it. When relationships are strong, people are more willing to "take the hill" together, whether the hill is literal or metaphorical.
