Asking questions is a good way of making them think it was their idea, also, it’s a great way to understand why they might be doing things in a way that seems wrong to you. Dale Carnegie’s lesson on leadership.
But in many occasions you as a leader (and as a team) have no clue what decision to take, plus striving for consensus and everyone holding hands happily can lead to groupthink.
It’s better to create the opportunity to ask questions in order to have all the ideas come out in the open and then pick the best idea available.
Look for smart, perfectionists, overachievers, people that will tell you what to do to make the company/product/services better. People who were great academically tend to have these qualities in my experience. This doesn’t mean people with formal education can’t be this way, but outstanding academic performance is a good way to spot them.
Works better than telling people what to do or even giving advice. People will end up doing the things that are good for them when they are inspired or when they finally figure things out. Actions speak louder than words. Be an inspiration.
They’re an endless source of inspiration. Listen hard and use negative feedback as a challenge.
Remember what your core mission and values are, don’t follow trends if they don’t align, it’s more to maintain and it can ruin your product.
If there’s a wound, first stop the bleeding, then you will be able to think more clearly in times of crisis.
Focus only on what’s more important and try to deliver the best of it possible as this is usually what your users/customers truly care about.
Before embarking on any new project, make sure to think through of all the obstacles and aim to solve the hardest ones first if it’s not possible to establish line of sight first but it might be worth giving it a try. Fail fast.
Sometimes this means making sure you’re not liable or breaking any laws. Know the laws before you embark on new adventures.
Some innovative companies have gone ahead and done it anyway and when they succeed they make laws change. Sometimes lobbying in smaller states can be a powerful (and cheap) tool to push innovation through.
Where others see problems you can find business models by providing solutions.
Don’t be a complainer, seize the opportunity. Be proactive.
Chamath Palihapitiya, a successful entrepreneur and investor, emphasizes the importance of maintaining "Optionality" in decision-making. Optionality refers to the ability to keep your future choices open, rather than locking yourself into a single, final outcome. Understanding whether your decisions are final or reversible is key to making wise choices in both business and life.
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Final vs. Reversible Decisions: Some decisions are permanent, and once made, they can’t be undone without significant cost. Others are reversible, meaning you can change course if things don’t work out as planned. Before making a decision, it’s crucial to ask yourself: “Does this choice leave me with options?”
If a decision is reversible, you can afford to experiment, take risks, and pivot if needed. But if the decision is final, it requires deeper consideration, more information, and careful planning.
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Why Optionality Matters: In a fast-changing world, flexibility is a powerful tool. The ability to adapt and adjust your path as new information or opportunities arise can lead to greater success. Optionality helps you minimize risk while maximizing your ability to respond to unforeseen challenges. It also helps you avoid the paralysis of overcommitment—keeping too many rigid obligations can prevent you from seizing new, better opportunities.
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Building Optionality in Your Decisions: To build optionality, make choices that preserve future flexibility. This can mean delaying irreversible decisions until you have more clarity, designing plans with multiple exit strategies, or creating buffers to allow for unexpected changes. Always consider how each decision impacts your long-term ability to pivot, grow, or explore new avenues.
In life and work, keeping options open is often the best strategy. Decisions made with optionality in mind allow you to adapt, experiment, and ultimately achieve greater freedom and success.