The Tendency to Judge Ideas and Leadership by HIPAA

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The human tendency to judge the quality of an idea based on its outcome is a natural inclination but not conducive to fostering innovation.
The inclination for individuals, particularly those in positions of authority, to believe that they always have the right idea can hinder progress and effective decision-making.
Leadership based solely on the highest paid person's opinion (HIPPO) can result in poor outcomes and is not a reliable approach.
Business geeks strive to create organizations that can overcome the potential pitfalls of relying solely on the opinions of high-ranking individuals.

What's different about companies that accomplish amazing things? Perhaps surprisingly, says Andrew McAfee of MIT, it has nothing to do with being agile or with better technology. Instead, they've developed what he calls "geek" cultures, which emphasize intense cooperation, rapid learning curves, and a lack of hierarchy. Listen as McAfee talks about his book The Geek Way with EconTalk's Russ Roberts and how focusing on company norms, as opposed to organizational charts and structure, is a key to realizing big ambitions. They also discuss the role that data and evidence play in geek companies' decision-making and why the willingness to embrace failure is a winning strategy.