Fauci’s Private Diary Reveals a Leadership Problem Every Executive Should Understand
Your diary may be private. Your leadership consequences aren’t.
EXPERT OPINION BY JERRY COLONNA, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, REBOOT
Former director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci. Photo:
Senator Rand Paul recently dropped Dr. Anthony Fauci’s private diaries into the national spotlight. The pages were filled with a behind-the-scenes peek at pandemic power plays, presidential gripes, and, most glaringly, a split-screen between public reassurances and private doubts.
Diaries can be a lifeline for leaders. I recommend it to every client. However, as Fauci’s saga shows, they can also be a ticking time bomb if your inner monologue doesn’t match your public script.
But as the public saw from Fauci’s diary debacle, it’s important for the things you say to be in line with the things you do, just in case someone finds your diary and posts it on X. It’s also important to acknowledge that any mistakes made are part of who you are as a leader.
Every client I’ve ever worked with strays
Every client I’ve ever worked with strays from their initial path more than once. The real story is what you do when your mask slips.
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Beyond the obvious
Fauci kept personal diary entries on a government computer, which is partly why his private thoughts weren’t kept private. It’s a lesson in not storing private thoughts on a company computer — even if you run the company or are in a top leadership position.
Beyond the obvious, Fauci lost most of his credibility when the public learned that his private thoughts and public statements were in contrast.
Most of the leaked diary pages were directly related to Covid-19. What Fauci did in the public eye and the truth he kept temporarily hidden were two different things.
Source: www.inc.com
