What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture

by Ben Horowitz

There are essentially three high-level decision-making styles: My way or the highway. This leader says, “I don’t care what you all think, we’re doing it my way. If you don’t like it, the door is right behind you.” This is maximally efficient as the decision-making process requires no discussion at all. Everyone has a say. This leader favors a democratic process. If he could call for a formal vote on every decision, he would. Decisions take a long time to get made, but everybody is guaranteed a say. Everyone has input, then I decide. This leader seeks a balance between getting the right information and using all the brain power available, and keeping the process efficient. Her process is not as empowering as Everyone has a say or as efficient as My way or the highway. In business, the third style tends to work best. My way or the highway disempowers everyone beneath the CEO and creates severe bottlenecks at the top. Everyone has a say, ironically, drives everyone completely nuts—employees dislike it even more than My way or the highway.