Founder MindsetProven Pattern
Empower team ownership by giving decision authority even when you disagree
Let team members make decisions after spirited debate to build ownership.
When to use
When team members are ready for autonomy
Don't do this
Overriding team decisions
3 Founders Who Did This
1
Tallyby Jan Chong
Allowed reports to own decisions after spirited debate
Result:Team members grew capabilities
Read full story →2
Appleby Michael Lopp
Instead of giving direct orders, Lopp offers a 'box filled with interesting ideas' and lets team members decide what to do with them. He notes that even when you try to be dictatorial, people apply their own approach anyway.
Result:Team members have ownership and apply their own expertise while still being guided by leader's thinking
Read full story →3
Quip / Lambda Schoolby Molly Graham
Teaches managers to focus on 'the what, not the how' - evaluate whether goals were achieved while allowing independence in approach. Combined with disproportionate investment in high performers over struggling employees.
Result:Applied across Facebook, Quip, CZI, and Lambda School to build high-performing teams that scaled without micromanagement