Many great ideas have died as a result of status fights. In the meeting room it became more important whose idea it was rather than whose idea was best.
And so, the best idea died.
Of course, the world couldn’t care less about your status struggles. If you show up with an inferior idea and others show up with their best idea, who’s gonna make it?
For that reason, Rick Rubin, the famous producer, tries to remove names from ideas as much as possible: “I always ask for any information shared with me to not be labeled and not explained at all.” This allows him to judge an idea based on its merits rather than based on whose idea it was.
And quite likely that explains part of why he has managed to produce winning records for over four decades and become one of the most influential producers of the world.
Have you taken any deliberate steps to leave status out of the decision making process?
