strategic-narrative
Use when traditional problem/solution pitches fail to differentiate, when teams are misaligned around messaging, or when entering Series B/scaling phases where founder-led sales no longer scale
Agent Mindset Termination Protocol
When firing someone, separate the business decision from humane implementation. Act as their talent agent—actively use your network to help them find their next role.
Bar Raiser Hiring Mechanism
A quality control mechanism with a designated interviewer from outside the hiring chain who has veto power to ensure candidates raise the bar (better than 50% of current employees in role). Amazon's talent density secret.
Culture-as-Product Operating System
Treat company culture as a product you build for employees. Iterate on it using feedback loops (NPS), identify bugs, and evolve it—don't try to preserve a static version.
delicate-conversation-scripts
Use when delivering difficult feedback (performance issues, firing, promotion denial), when managers avoid necessary conversations due to fear, or when needing structured scripts for high-stakes communication
Explorer vs Lecturer Coaching Model
A feedback approach where the manager acts as a curious investigator rather than an authoritarian expert, using observation and questions to help direct reports self-diagnose issues. Use during 1:1s and performance reviews.
Flashtag Communication Protocol
Use explicit tags (#fyi, #suggestion, #recommendation, #plea) in written communication to clarify the expected weight and required response level. Eliminates the "Founder Megaphone" problem.
Give Away Your Legos
In scaling companies, once you master a role you must hand it off and move to a bigger, messier challenge. Holding on buries you; giving away allows you to tackle bigger challenges.
House Operational Architecture
A three-part structural framework for building a scalable company—Foundation (Founding Documents), Posts & Beams (Supporting Structures), and Mechanicals (Operating Cadence). Use when moving from PMF to scaling the org.
In-The-Details Review Loop
A leadership cadence where the CEO/Leader reviews actual work (designs, prototypes, copy) weekly rather than just metrics or status slides. Use when feeling product quality is slipping or team is moving too slowly.
Left-Hand Column Detox
A technique to translate harsh internal thoughts into constructive external dialogue. Say the thing you think you cannot say—but detoxify it first. Use when sensing tension or unspoken issues in meetings.
organizational-kayfabe
Use when navigating large organizations where official strategy seems doomed but leadership isn't ready to hear it, when dealing with status updates that feel disconnected from reality, or when feeling burned out by organizational politics
Selective Micromanagement Matrix
Leadership is a dynamic range. When confidence in team direction is low, temporary tactical micromanagement is the correct move—not autonomy. Teach the framework, then pull back.
shackleton-hiring
Use when hiring for early-stage high-growth companies, when filtering out comfort-seekers, or when building teams tackling unsolved technical challenges
Single-Threaded Leadership Model
An organizational model where a single leader is fully accountable for a specific goal and controls all cross-functional resources needed, minimizing external dependencies. Amazon's alternative to matrixed organizations.
Three Levels of Product Work
Understand that product work happens at three levels (Impact, Execution, Optics) and conflicts arise when people argue from different levels. Use to diagnose team misalignment.
Waterline Model
Diagnose team problems by checking structural issues (goals/roles) at the surface before diving deep into personality conflicts. 80% of team problems are structural, not personal.
Willow Tree Leadership Style
A metaphor for managing change—remain rooted in core purpose while being extremely flexible in tactics, absorbing storms of change without breaking. Use during pivots, restructures, or industry upheavals.
bar-test-positioning
Use after drafting positioning statements, before writing website copy, or when marketing language sounds corporate rather than human
Causal Interview Protocol
A JTBD interviewing technique to reconstruct the customer's timeline and uncover causal mechanisms behind a purchase. Resembles criminal investigation—penetrate surface-level answers to find the struggling moment.
chatter-driven-development
Use when designing futuristic agentic workflows, when wanting AI to proactively act on team communications, or when eliminating the bottleneck of formal specifications
curiosity-loops
Use when facing a significant decision (career pivot, product direction, technical choice) and feeling stuck or indecisive, when seeking contextual advice rather than generic recommendations
Diagnose with Data, Treat with Design
Use data to establish business observability (diagnosing problems) but use creative design thinking to solve them (treatment). Resolves the conflict between data-driven and intuition-driven product development.
lazy-vain-selfish-users
Use when designing onboarding flows, writing marketing copy, or creating the first-mile product experience to capture attention from indifferent users
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