Category: Ask Harry

I often have discussions with students and colleagues about the critical importance of “free speech” in a strong democracy. For example, I believe the ability of the media to challenge, debate, and disagree with government leaders is absolutely essential. In contrast, look at the inability of anyone to question leadership in a dictatorship or communist government.

However, as you would guess knowing my fanatical focus on always seeking a “balanced perspective,” the key question is whether the right to free speech carries any responsibilities?

Some argue that if you place any constraints on free speech, can you say it’s really “free?” Others would argue that that is an extreme position which does not allow for some “reasonable” exceptions. But who defines the exceptions? For example, should it be okay to yell “fire” in a crowded building? Many would argue no, that would be wrong and illegal.

Okay, check the box if it is illegal. The question I then ask myself is: Are there other areas that should be an exception to “free speech?” Here is where my focus on values-based leadership impacts how I address the issue of the responsibility that comes with “free speech.”

I spend a lot of time in my Kellogg leadership classes and in my leadership seminars to executives explaining the importance of providing feedback.

While most people will nod in agreement, I believe many do not realize what providing feedback really means. I recently asked an executive if he provided his team with feedback, and he stated, “Absolutely! I sit down with each person once a year and complete the feedback form from Human Resources.” Completing a form from Human Resources once a year has nothing to do with providing feedback. I define feedback as “open, honest, continuous, and transparent.” If someone works for me, there is nothing we will discuss on that once a year form that we haven’t discussed multiple times.

My goal is to make myself available to address questions from my Kellogg students and executives on any topics that they would like to discuss. I constantly remind myself that if it were not for attending Kellogg, I would not have had the opportunities I have enjoyed during the last 40 years.

However, I always remind students that I have very few answers, but many opinions. Said another way, rather than Q&A, I do Q&O.

One of the most frequent questions I get is, “How do I decide whether to stay in my current position or seek an opportunity in another organization?”

Much has been written in the last several years regarding the declining value of a college education. According to Gallup, the percentage of Americans who expressed confidence in higher education fell from 57% to 36%. A recent article in the New York Times, “Why Americans have lost faith in the value of college“ states that “nearly half of parents say they would prefer not to send their children to a four-year college after high school…. 2/3 of high school students think they will be just fine without a college degree.”

This perspective is significantly different from the previous 50 years. As stated in the NYT article “Between 1965 and 2011, university enrollment increased nearly fourfold to 21 million.”

So the obvious question is: Why is the value of a college education declining in America?