What is "Glass Bottle" Leadership?
How to Lead When Everyone's Watching (and Recording)
This week, a CEO friend shared a dilemma that will sound familiar to anyone who's led through change while feeling like they're living under a microscope. She was preparing to announce a major organizational shift and, seeking to convey the message with care, called in a communications guru. As they discussed tone and messaging, the consultant surprised her: “Avoid using the word transparency,” the expert advised. “You don’t want to promise that you’ll share everything – because you can’t. It’s inappropriate to share all the details with everyone.”
My friend paused. Wasn’t transparency the thing leaders were supposed to promise?
She asked herself if she was compromising her values – would avoiding the word feel evasive or dishonest? But as she reflected, she realized something more nuanced. She could be forthcoming – clear and candid about what she knew – but she could not, in good faith, reveal everything. She couldn’t (and shouldn’t) disclose every behind-the-scenes twist. Some conversations were in flux. Some decisions weren’t hers alone. Some of the details that seemed important to her, frankly, were probably just too much information.
It reminded me of parenting. You want to be honest with your kids. You want to build trust. But when your seven-year-old asks if the world is safe or where babies come from, you don’t hand over a global risk report and a medical textbook. You answer honestly – within reason and without overwhelming detail. It’s not deceit. It’s discernment. Leading a company can feel oddly similar, even when everyone is an adult.
This tension – between openness and discretion – is the modern leadership tightrope. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, said it best this week at a Forbes event: “We live in a terrarium today. We live in a glass bottle.” He wasn’t joking. “Because of transparency, which has many fine and good elements and many negative ones, you have to lead differently.”
Translation: the walls are glass, the mic is always on, and someone is live-tweeting your Tuesday meeting.
Fink’s point? Leaders today need to be more “guarded” and “systematic” in how and what they communicate. Gone are the days of “thinking out loud.” In the era of screenshots and Slack leaks, what you say can and will be used in a group chat.
And yet, for years we’ve been told that authenticity and transparency are the holy grail. People crave realness, right? They want the messy truth. Yes – but not too messy. Authenticity is still essential, but it’s evolving. It now means clear values, purposeful communication, and the humility to say, “I don’t know yet, but I’ll keep you posted.”
So what’s a leader to do?
Stay honest, but be smart. Speak plainly, but not impulsively. Avoid the overshare spiral. This isn’t about spin – it’s about stewardship. Be the leader who speaks with care and conviction, not the one who goes viral by accident.
Because like my CEO friend realized – and like most parents eventually learn – you can be real without revealing everything. It may feel unfair that every move you make is being watched, but scrutiny comes with the leadership role (just like parenting). After all, we're all watching each other too – listening for clarity, searching for steadiness, and hoping to find someone we can count on to lead the way, sharing what's essential without drowning us in every detail.
It's in this careful balance that your true leadership shines.
Questions for Consideration
Beyond just what we say, how do you believe leaders can best convey steadiness and trustworthiness in an environment where every action is subject to instant public interpretation?
Given the "glass bottle" reality, what's the toughest leadership decision you've faced where the need for discretion clashed directly with calls for complete openness?
As organizations evolve, what specific skills or mindsets do you think are most critical for future leaders to master in navigating the ongoing tension between authentic transparency and necessary discretion?
An Invitation to Lead Differently
Leadership Outside the Box is dedicated to exploring the next wave of leadership, fostering out-of-the-box, future-focused thinking for leaders at every level. Through columns, interviews, videos, and real-time observations, I hope to spark your insight, challenge assumptions, and support your growth in the art and science of leadership. As the founder of Story Board Advisors, and having had the privilege of working for decades as a CEO, board director, executive coach, university faculty, and writer, I've learned to combine strategic insight with creative storytelling. Through Leadership Outside the Box, my goal is to help you think differently, lead intentionally, and think about what is ahead, so you can truly make a difference in the world.
I invite you to read along and share your views. You can reach me at suzanna@storyboardadvisors.com.
Great explanation of the need to apply discernment, sharing only what is both necessary and appropriate.
Your columns on the topic of leadership are fascinating. So glad you are doing this!