A good leader creates enough safety for bad news to arrive early.

Bad news arrives early only where it is safe to deliver, and safety is created by what happens to the first person who brings it. If they are punished, even subtly, the reporting stops and you begin learning about problems when they become unavoidable. The cost of that delay is almost always higher than the news.

Watch your reaction the next time someone brings you something you did not want to hear. Thank them specifically. That moment sets the price of honesty for everyone watching.