Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao (Stanford) - Smart Leaders Understand Friction [EXPLICIT]
Jan 31, 2024
auto_awesome
Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao discuss their new book "The Friction Project" and the importance of understanding friction. Topics include pushing back successfully, growth vs. speed in startups, advantages/disadvantages of early stage funding, and the value of choosing the right boss or VC.
Identifying and addressing organizational debt is crucial for productivity and success.
Choosing investors who align with the company's values and culture is vital for startups to maintain flexibility and autonomy.
Deep dives
The Importance of Recognizing Friction in Organizations
Recognizing and addressing friction within organizations is crucial for productivity and success. In a study on organizational and technical debt, it was found that as organizations grow and become more complex, they tend to accumulate organizational debt, similar to technical debt in software engineering. This debt can manifest as bloated systems, inefficient processes, and bureaucratic obstacles, leading to decreased productivity and employee dissatisfaction. Just as software engineers continuously refactor their code to avoid technical debt, organizations should be proactive in identifying and addressing organizational debt through regular assessment, simplification, and streamlining of processes.
The Impact of Friction on Startups
Friction is particularly relevant for startups, as they strive to maintain nimbleness and adaptability. While early-stage startups may require funding, caution should be exercised in choosing investors who align with the company's values and culture. Taking on funding too early or from ill-suited investors may lead to increased pressure, loss of autonomy, and adherence to external expectations. Startups should prioritize working with investors who provide support and guidance without stifling creativity and the ability to pivot.
The Role of Leadership in Managing Friction
Leadership plays a crucial role in managing friction within organizations. Effective leaders adopt a trustee mentality, valuing their employees' time and actively managing organization-wide friction. They focus on simplifying processes, promoting collaboration, and creating a culture that values efficiency and innovation. Additionally, leaders should remain mindful of the potential for collaboration overload or organizational bloat, balancing the need for speed and growth with the negative consequences that can arise.
The Need for Subtraction and Refactoring in Organizations
Similar to software engineering, organizations need to embrace subtraction and refactoring to address organizational and technical debt. By regularly assessing and streamlining processes, removing unnecessary bureaucracy, and mowing the proverbial organizational lawn, organizations can reduce friction and enhance efficiency. Recognizing the value of simplicity and the dangers of excessive complexity, leaders can create an environment that fosters creativity, productivity, and long-term success.
Robert I. Sutton is an organizational psychologist and professor emeritus of Management Science and Engineering in the Stanford School of Engineering. Hayagreeva “Huggy” Rao is the Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Science, the Sociological Research Association, and the Academy of Management. In this conversation with Stanford lecturers Ravi Belani and Emily Ma, Sutton and Rao discuss their new book, “The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder,” and offer advice and insights from their years of research and observation.
(EDS NOTE: THIS TALK INCLUDES EXPLICIT LANGUAGE.)
—-----------------------------------
Stanford eCorner content is produced by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. At STVP, we empower aspiring entrepreneurs to become global citizens who create and scale responsible innovations.
Support our mission of providing students and educators around the world with free access to Stanford University’s network of entrepreneurial thought leaders: https://ecorner.stanford.edu/give.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode