Lenny Distilled

Build consensus or make unilateral decisions?

Leadership → Influence Without Authority

We don't subscribe to this idea of PM as the mini CEO. You're up there directing from on high that we're going to build that feature and we're going to do that. And that's just not the type of culture that we have, and generally speaking from what I've seen, doesn't lead to good decisions or the best features or product being built.

Tim HolleyInside Etsy's product, growth, and marketplace evolution
Supporting

The worst thing that you do as a leader is you hesitate on the next decision. The thing that causes you to hesitate is both decisions are horrible.

Ben Horowitz$46B of hard truths: Why founders fail and why you need to run toward fear | Ben Horowitz (a16z)
Supporting

The psychological muscle you have to build to be a great leader is to be able to click in the abyss and go, 'Okay, that way's slightly better. We're going to go that way.'

Ben Horowitz$46B of hard truths: Why founders fail and why you need to run toward fear | Ben Horowitz (a16z)
Nuanced

It goes back to human psychology of just something that comes from you, feels a lot more familiar and easy to accept.

Chandra JanakiramanAn operator's guide to product strategy
With caveats

The way that greatness is created is that you find a CEO who's willing to make brave hard decisions and own the results.

Eoghan McCabeHow Intercom rose from the ashes by betting everything on AI
With caveats

Never give up is the most important behavior of successful CEOs of startup. The second one, by the way, is making decisions with conviction. If you don't make them with conviction, then the team is not going to follow.

Uri LevineA founder's guide to crisis management