How can top leaders be unaware of illegal practices, like the Murdoch organizational problems in Great Britain with the hacking of cell phones and paying off of police? Top leaders said they were insulated from the day-to-day decisions. How does an organization get past issues of insulation, and how can you be a change agent for constructive leadership?
First, let’s deal with reality. It is impossible for top-tier executives to know what is going on in their organizations all the time and/or at lower levels; in fact, this is not their responsibility. Micromanagement is toxic behavior for leaders; we know this. Rather than micromanaging, each leader must ensure the people whom he/she is responsible for understand and practice what is “right,” the right decisions and behaviors.