2. Keeping the faculty of wonder alive

The truth that comes out of children's mouths stems from their spontaneity in discovering what is incoherent and problematic. You need to encourage this capacity for astonishment in your employees to avoid systematically falling back into denial ("nothing can happen to us"), as real or supposed arrogance can lead to a loss of clarity in strategic decisions.

Here's an example: a renowned German car manufacturer boasted that it knew better than most how to build cars of unfailing reliability... But during a demonstration in front of an audience of journalists, the car on display turned over. Although it's easy to argue and then find good reasons, the damage has been done. Corporate arrogance produces a blindness that can have far-reaching consequences.

To be astonished, you also have to be able to step outside your usual comfort zone....