Short Term Memory

I have seen organizations fail simply because the leader or who was perceived as the leader suffered from short term memory loss. Here is what I am referring to- organization, corporations, non-profits all are successful not because of a single person yet rather because of the group. It take many people to make successful organizations. These people spend their time, money, mental power and sweat to fulfill the leaders vision.
It is amazing to me to listen to these people after they left that organization simply because of a single instance where the leader positioned themselves against them because of what was perceived to be true. A leader needs to decipher the situation and at the same time remember what this person has done for the organization. Too many times one instance (that may or may not be true) defines the rest of the relationship with that leader and organization and everything that was accomplished before that moment is forgotten by that leader.
Now don’t get me wrong if it is crime or a complete law breaking activity I understand how all before is forgotten. Yet in too many cases it is small compared to the big picture.
I want to encourage leaders that sometimes it is actually better to do nothing than something. As many times by doing something it enlarges the problem. Also don’t be a leader with a short term memory. Be sure before making a call to recount the devotion that individual had and may still have towards the organization.