The Wisdom of My Own Failures

"Looking back on my career, my favorite managers allowed me to own decisions, even if they disagreed with me. They couldn't do this for every decision — some were just too expensive or difficult to reverse. But if they spotted an opportunity for me to own a decision, they let me run with it. This would often be preceded by spirited debate, where they challenged my assumptions and forced me to think through various outcomes. Then they gave me the space to decide and room to fail and learn (and to sometimes surprise them).

Jan Chong, VP of Engineering at Tally.

A leader creates the Space.

Positional power is only to install guard rails to contain any failure.

Leadership is the courage to empower others to question the space you created for them - hoping they may reject it and create their own.

A courage earned through the wisdom of my own failures.