How to Tell Your Boss They're Wrong–Tactfully

As an engineering manager, I feel pretty strongly that leadership should be cultivating a culture where they’re inviting people to challenge strategy/tactics, and their people feel comfortable challenging them. Part of that is recognizing the power dynamics at play, and consciously making room for other people to contribute to decisions. Realistically sometimes leaders have to take decisive action that doesn’t take into account all of the input they would ideally have received if the time was there, but in general I think one of the most important qualities of a leader is knowing when to shut up and let your team take the reigns.

I&#x27;ve read somewhere about how leadership challenges need 2 opposite factions: the jesters and the adults. The jesters loudly mock and complain the decision, the adults speek softly using words like &#x27;concerned&#x27;.<p>Neither faction alone us enough. The jesters are obnoxious and the adults easily ignored. Together, the adults provide a safe space for the leaders to retreat into without loosing face, while the jesters demonstrate the necessity of the change.

Asking questions in private works most of the time.

Up to a point, Lord Copper.<p>[<i>Scoop</i>, by Evelyn Waugh]

_The Mote in God&#x27;s Eye_:<p>&quot;Wrong,&quot; said Renner.<p>&quot;The tactful way,&quot; Rod said quietly, &quot;the polite way to disagree with the Senator would be to say, &#x27;That turns out not to be the case.&#x27;&quot;<p>Renner&#x27;s face lit up. &quot;Hey. I like that. Anyway, the Senator&#x27;s wrong.&quot;