By Adam Turteltaub

Imagine sealing yourself in a bubble in which the only ideas inside are your own, and nothing you disagree with can enter it.  In the abstract it sounds kind of great.  In practice and in business, it can be very dangerous.

Gael O’Brien has given the risks of self-seal a lot of thought.  She is President of Strategic Opportunities Group, a long-time executive coach and leadership expert.  Her career includes writing The Ethics Coach Column for Entrepreneur Magazine and time at PWC and Mitsubishi Motors, and we even overlapped for a few months at one job, more than decade ago.

In this podcast she warns of the risks of self-seal, how executives can fall into the trap, how to avoid it, and how to extricate yourself from it.  It’s a good listen and a good reminder of the value of hearing many voices, not just our own.