Ever been in a meeting where everyone magically agrees with the boss? No debate. No pushback. Just a room full of nodding heads.
That’s the HIPPO effect—when the Highest Paid Person’s Opinion wins by default. And it’s one of the fastest ways to kill good ideas.
Why This Is a Problem
The second the big boss shares their thoughts, most people stop thinking critically.
- Nobody wants to challenge them.
- Nobody wants to risk looking difficult.
- So groupthink sets in.
And just like that, a terrible idea sails through because no one wanted to speak up.
Seen This Before?
You probably have.
📌 A CEO decides on a new product feature. It’s obviously flawed, but no one says a word. Months later? Disaster.
📌 A senior manager has a ‘brilliant’ idea. It’s outdated, expensive, and untested. But hey, they get their way.
📌 A team meeting where real discussions could happen, but instead, it’s just people agreeing with whatever the boss says.
Sound familiar? That’s the HIPPO in action.
How to Kill the HIPPO Effect
Want better decisions instead of yes-men meetings? Try this:
✅ Leaders Speak Last. Let the team talk first. Get honest opinions before you give yours. Otherwise, you’re just running a dictatorship in disguise.
✅ Call on the Quiet People. The loudest person isn’t always the smartest. Ask the ones who think before they speak.
✅ Build a Challenge Network. Get people around you who will actually push back, not just echo your ideas back to you.
Final Thought
If you always get what you want in meetings, chances are you’re the HIPPO. And if you’ve ever stayed quiet when you knew something was wrong, you’ve fed the HIPPO.
Kill the HIPPO. Save your team from bad decisions.
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