Retired billion-dollar CEO: Push candor over comfort with your team

Bob Kohlhepp prided himself on being an honest and fair leader throughout the 50 years he spent rising up the ranks of uniform giant Cintas Corp. But there were more than a few times he had to, with straightforward respect, dress down some employees.

Like the time the company had reached maximum capacity at is plant in Houston. Kohlhepp asked the plant manager where he thought a new facility should go. The plant manager balked at even having a second site in town, reasoning a second site would split the $20 million business the original plant was doing in half — and cost some control.