Principle #23 – Diagnose before you prescribe. If doctors worked like some leaders, they’d say:“You’re coughing? Here’s surgery. Also, take these horse pills.” Ridiculous, right? Yet in business, we do it all the time—jumping to solutions before we even understand the problem. Quick fixes feel good, like handing out aspirin for every ache. But if
Principle #22 – Smallest changes for biggest impacts. We often think big problems need big solutions. Cue the off-site retreats, multi-phase project plans, and “transformational initiatives” that cost a fortune and take forever. Meanwhile, a small, well-aimed change could’ve solved 80% of the problem by lunch. Small changes are powerful because they’re focused, low-risk, and
Principle #21 – Don’t get stuck addressing symptoms. Quick fixes feel good, don’t they? A problem pops up, you swoop in, and—boom—issue resolved. Cue the hero music. But then it pops up again. And again. That’s not hero work; that’s hamster wheel work. When we only treat symptoms, we accidentally feed the problem. We create
Principle #20 – Coauthor. More minds, more better. We love the romantic image of the lone genius: one brilliant person, one whiteboard, one lightning-bolt idea. But let’s be honest—most “solo brilliance” dies on the whiteboard. Breakthrough solutions don’t come from one perspective; they come from multiple minds colliding and refining ideas together. It’s messier, sure,
Principle #19 – Start where the other is. Ever had a conversation where you explained your point perfectly—clear logic, solid data, flawless delivery—and they still didn’t get it? That’s because you started from your mountain, not theirs. We love to think people will come around if we just talk louder or add another chart. But
Principle #18 – Communication is more than saying words. Ever leave a meeting thinking, “I heard every word, but I have no idea what they just said”? That’s because communication isn’t just words—it’s connection. We’ve all seen it: the sales rep powering through their pitch, oblivious to confused faces. Or the manager who sends a
Principle #17 – Decisions go where they belong. Ever sat in a meeting thinking, “Why am I even deciding this?” If you’re honest, you probably have. Leaders often hoard decisions like Halloween candy, believing it’s “safer” if they approve everything. Spoiler: it’s not. It slows things down, burns you out, and disempowers the very people
Principle #16 – Trust comes after cooperation. In that order. We love to talk about “building trust” in teams, as if it’s a mystical aura you conjure with enough vulnerability exercises and inspirational posters. But here’s the kicker: trust doesn’t show up first. Cooperation does. Think about it—most of us say, “I’ll trust them when
Principle #15 – Work hard to make hard things (more) simple. Ever seen a process map that looks like a plate of spaghetti? Or listened to an explanation so complex you left with more questions than answers? Complexity might make us feel smart, but it slows decisions, burns people out, and kills momentum. Leaders who
Principle #14: Apply the Trust Algorithm. Accountability = Authority = Capability Ever notice how trust tanks when someone is “responsible” but has no power to decide… or someone has authority but no clue what they’re doing? Cue the eye rolls and Slack rants. Trust isn’t built on good vibes. It’s built on alignment: Accountability =
