As inspired by L. David Marquet’s book Turn the Ship Around.

Home > Tactics > Decision Velocity > The Leader Leader Model

Problem: In traditional top-down management, only a few people make decisions, which can slow down adaptability and innovation.

Solution: Encourage everyone to act as a leader by giving decision-making power to all team members, making the organization faster and more resilient.

Intro:

Everyone has the potential to lead. Organizations perform best when every individual is encouraged to act with the mindset and responsibility of a leader. Instead of a hierarchical structure where commands flow from the top down, this model emphasizes a distributed leadership where team members at every level are empowered to make decisions.

Tools:

• The traditional model of “control and command” is replaced with a structure that allows decision-making authority to flow to the level where the most information resides.
• Those who are closest to the problem or task have the autonomy to decide, which promotes efficiency and innovation and reduces delays caused by a bottleneck at the top.
• It also means that they are allowed to make bad decisions, as long as they are responsible for the consequences.
• By giving control and authority to each team member, individuals feel a greater sense of ownership over their work. This creates a culture of accountability, as each person is invested in the outcomes of their decisions and the broader goals of the team.
• Instead of asking for permission or waiting for orders, team members inform leaders of their intentions. For example, rather than asking, “Should I take this action?” they say, “I intend to take this action.”
• Technical competence ensures that individuals make informed decisions, while clarity of purpose aligns everyone’s efforts toward common goals, reducing the need for direct supervision.
• Leaders are not just at the top; they are cultivated at all levels. By nurturing leadership qualities in every role, organizations become more resilient and adaptive, as every team member is capable of stepping up when needed.