Very graphic title, I know...

But sometimes that's what it takes to make you read a blog.

Just like Hollywood thinks that's what it takes to make you watch a TV show.

Let me put this in perspective...

Yesterday, my wife and kids and I were having Sunday lunch with my in-laws.  Over the course of conversation, my 12 year old daughter shared that she was really enjoying a TV show called "Pretty Little Liars" which airs on the ABC Family Network (more on that later).

Here is the official text from the website about the show...

"Rosewood is a perfect little town. So quiet and pristine, you'd never guess it holds so many secrets. Some of the ugliest ones belong to the prettiest girls in town -- Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily, four estranged friends whose darkest secrets are about to unravel.

One year ago, Alison, the Queen Bee of their group, disappeared and the girls swore they'd never tell what really happened that night. They thought their secrets would bond them together, but just the opposite is true. Then again, who's to say what the truth is in Rosewood. It seems everyone in town is lying about something.

Now, as the mystery surrounding Alison's disappearance resurfaces, the girls begin getting messages from "A," saying – and threatening – things only Alison would know. But it couldn't be Alison. Could it?"

Now, that is how my daughter described it to her grandparents.  And from that point of view, it sounds like a interesting, family oriented, teeny-bopper show, doesn't it.

But wait!  I had to add my two cents - which went something like this...

"While that is true, sweetie, don't forget that it is the character development that makes this show so enjoyable...

-Teen girl #1 has decided she may be a lesbian and so she is trying out new things...
-Teen girl #2 has decided to sleep with her 25 year old teacher...
-Teen girl #3 has anger issues and is frequently arrested, so in order to keep her out of jail, her mom has decided to sleep with the arresting officer to allow the charges to be dropped...
-Finally, Teen girl #4 is very smart (finally, a good role model!)...except she finds it useful to steal her sisters fiancee' and also to steal her schoolwork and submit it as her own (so much for that...)"

(I guess that is why they market ABC family as "A new kind of family...")

Same TV show - two different interpretations.

Now, my parental decision to let my 12 year watch this debacle aside, there is a key lesson to be learned here...

There are ALWAYS two sides to every story.

As a leader, it is your responsibility not to take everything at face value.  Get into your organization and find out what is going on.

Are you employees telling you the down and dirty details...or are you just getting the standard marketing paragraph that is heavy on big picture and short on details?

Leaders need to know how to get the right information from the right people at the right time.  Learn this skill and learn it quickly...

or you may end up leading your own set of liars...pretty or otherwise.