Executive Coach Joel Berman: Why Leaders Must Hear Bad News Early

Executive coach and former Paramount Pictures senior executive Joel Berman is drawing on his decades of leadership experience to address a common executive blind spot: the tendency for employees to withhold bad news until it is too late. In a recent release, Berman explains that while leaders want their teams to solve problems independently, the line between "I'll handle it" and "I'll wait to tell anyone until I've handled it" can be costly. When problems—especially revenue shortfalls—are revealed early, leadership can adjust expenses, reallocate resources, or prepare the board. Once discovered after the fact, options disappear and the problem becomes more expensive. Berman stresses that leaders must create a culture where open communication is rewarded, not punished. He also holds executives accountable, noting that "They didn't tell me" is not a sufficient excuse. "It's your fault because you didn't know about it," he says, emphasizing that knowing what is happening is part of the job. Berman speaks from experience, admitting he made every mistake and wasn't always consistent in his reactions. Today, he coaches executives on building structures—like regular one-on-ones—that encourage both good and bad news to surface early. His firm, JoelPBerman.com, offers coaching for leaders navigating these pressures.