Stop Adding Value!

Suppose one of your team members comes to you with a solution. It's a pretty good solution. Maybe 95% there. But you have one suggestion that could make it another 5% better.

Should you give the suggestion?

Most of us would say yes.

But here's the catch: the moment you improve the solution by 5%, you may reduce the ownership by 50%.

Because now it isn't their solution anymore. It's our solution.

And people don't fight for our ideas the way they fight for their own.

This is where managers often get it wrong. We overestimate the value of our advice and underestimate the value of ownership. We see the 5% improvement very clearly. What we don't see is the motivation, commitment and energy that can disappear when we take away someone's ownership.

Sometimes, 95% perfect with 100% ownership is far more valuable than 100% perfect with 50% ownership.

So the next time someone on your team brings you a solution, resist the temptation to improve it immediately.

Ask yourself one question first:

“Is my 5% improvement worth giving up their ownership?”

Sometimes, the best value you can add is knowing when not to add any.