This week's action: The "Solo Sprint." Identify one task or decision you were planning to "run by the team" or "discuss in a meeting." Your action is to skip the meeting, make the decision yourself, and execute it 100% to completion before you tell anyone.
Why this matters: At every level from entry-level to executive, the people who move fastest are those who take radical ownership.
When you "collaborate" too early, you aren't gaining insight; you’re seeking permission. You are spreading the risk so that if the idea fails, it’s everyone's fault. But when it's everyone's fault, the success belongs to no one. High-impact careers are built on the back of individual accountability. Real leadership is the courage to be wrong by yourself.
How to execute the Solo Sprint:
Pick a "Reversible" Decision: Don't bet the company's future, but pick something where the cost of being wrong is lower than the cost of waiting two weeks for a committee.
Avoid the "Feedback Loop": Stop asking "What do you think?" and start saying "I have decided to do X because of Y. I’ll update you when it’s done."
Own the Result: If it works, you take the credit. If it fails, you take the hit. Both are better for your career than being a face in a crowd of "collaborators."
