The Best CEOs Always Keep Their Secrets

Life without secrets would be no fun. Secrets are usually special, exclusive or interesting. As a person, who would not want to be special, exclusive or interesting? If you think about it, some of the things we enjoy today are best kept secrets. Everyone knows a mother, aunt, grandma, friend or relative who has a “secret sauce” for spaghetti. And if you can not think of someone, watch any family TV show. One of them probably has one.

More popularly, the recipe for Coca Cola is one of the most well-known secrets on earth. Billions of people have enjoyed Coke, served by the international business enterprise located all over the globe. Yet, it is unknown how they actually “open happiness” in every bottle. The unknown is what makes the logistics and distribution giant successful over their competition. Without the secret, they would not have a competitive advantage.

And that is why secrets are so important. They keep information exclusive. As you can imagine, they can be used for good or bad. For example, you probably do not want a business credit card security breach to be kept secret. Like most people, you will want to have your card changed right away. On the other hand, they allow companies to create value and offer a variety of products and services. As companies develop their processes like project management, supply chain, decision making, etc. They can render better services while gaining an edge over the competition.

Perhaps, that is why some of the best CEOs in the world simply can not answer every question in interviews. They have to protect their business intelligence against the competition. This requires understanding who you are speaking with and where can the information be shared, also called knowledge management. In a sense, we should think of our good secrets like assets to the company that must be maintained and appreciated or they will be wasted.

So, once you have a working strategy for your business, keep it a secret. But, that does not mean you have to put a lock on the door and have everyone sign Non-Disclosure Agreements. It just means, have your team embrace confidentiality. If your company culture incorporates trust, loyalty and pride in your work, then you should be in good shape. In any case, the best kept secrets are the ones out in the open. If you are really curious, you can always learn by watch closely!