Big companies have trouble with innovation. Innovation is about bad ideas, or ideas that look like bad ideas. That's the fundamental thing.
Ben HorowitzRead
I emphasize to C.E.O.s, you have to have a story in the minds of the employees. It's hard to memorize objectives, but it's easy to remember a story.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stories help employees understand and remember company goals more effectively than objectives alone.
In leadership, the power of storytelling is emphasized as a critical tool for engaging employees. Unlike abstract objectives that can be difficult to recall, a compelling narrative creates a shared vision that employees can easily relate to and remember, fostering a stronger connection to the company's mission and values.
Themes
LeadershipStorytellingEmployee EngagementObjectivesNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting to inspire creativity and alignment, I shared a personal story related to our mission.
More from Ben Horowitz
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Look - this is the terror of being a founder & CEO. It is all your fault. Every decision, every person you hire, every dumb thing you buy or do - ultimately, you're at the end.
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Nobody knows how to be a CEO. It's something you have to learn. It's a very lonely job.
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As long as people are clear on what they need to do and what's going on, you're very likely to succeed. When nobody is clear, then you're guaranteed to fail.
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