A Day in the Life of a Senior Leader

Chapter 41. The Loop

It’s late now. It happened today, just like I said it would, and it’s not done. It never is. Which is why the day ends where it starts. Let’s start with…

Dream a bit.

Nothing innovative was ever created by committee. You have to stumble on that odd idea at 3:15 a.m. and recognize that you’ve never seen it before. Maybe no one has seen it. Let it bump around your head a bit. Stare at it from a couple of angles. Do whatever you do to let it stew, but pitch Justin at some point. Pitch him because he’s just as crazy as you, and he won’t shut it down because he knows what you know: innovation is a fight. He’ll raise an eyebrow when you make no sense, but he’ll still ask insightful questions. Keep talking with him. Soon, he’ll believe more than you do.

Ask for help.

Nothing innovative was created by a committee, but it does require a team. You can see the blast radius of your idea, but you need Laura because scale requires not just a team but an understandable process to drive that team. You need help. Maybe it isn’t Laura, but it most certainly is someone who is definitely not you. In fact, the more they aren’t you, the better. The more their vision and values differ from yours, the higher the chance of success.

Set clear expectations.

Nothing innovative was created without the team understanding the vision. Explain the vision; it’s better if it starts as a smaller, palatable, tractable idea. Walk through the pitch and the draft of the strategy. Ask Danny. ...