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A Day in the Life of a Senior Leader
book

A Day in the Life of a Senior Leader

by Michael Lopp
November 2026
Beginner to intermediate
242 pages
5h 1m
English
O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Content preview from A Day in the Life of a Senior Leader

Chapter 25. The Worry Police

The Worry Police worry.

During their careers, the people in the Worry Police have been rewarded amply for their worrying, so they believe it’s their move. It makes them feel important. Worrying.

The Worry Police have real power; they are the police. This power was granted to them because sometimes, preparing for imminent disaster is the correct strategy. An averted disaster is worth celebrating, but someone must tell the Worry Police that worrying is not the only means of disaster prevention. Hey, I just did.

The Worry Police don’t build trust. Because they are certain something is fundamentally broken with this process, project, or person. They have prejudged on the barest of facts or straight-up rumors. They will continue interrogating until fundamental brokenness is proven or…manufactured. I know, right?

The Worry Police might sound engaged with their questions, but they aren’t. They’re worried. They believe this continued incessant worry will somehow miraculously guide the project in the correct direction, and sometimes they’ll get lucky. It’s maddening.

The Worry Police aren’t curious; they are concerned. Curious means asking hard and thought-provoking questions. Concerned means asking questions to alarm everyone: “I have concerns about this effort.” Curiosity is rewarded with discovery. Concerns amplify fears and create excuses.

The Worry Police don’t have hope, because they haven’t been rewarded for hope, for optimism. The Worry Police can’t ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781098162924Errata Page