Say you’re trying to drive from SF to NY. You're the navigator sitting in the passenger seat. You could give instructions at different levels: * Get us to NY * Get us to NY, let’s try to hit some good destinations in between * Get us to NY, on the way let’s see X, Y, Z * Get us to NY, here's the exact route * Get us to NY, I'll let you know where to turn Or, you could literally touch the wheel. For every level of driver, there is an appropriate level of guidance, but you’re trying to quickly back away from the ones in the lower rung to the front to empower people, by giving them [[Accountability is the price of autonomy|autonomy & accountability]]. Letting the wheel go gets more important when the problem space is complex where [[Nudges not dictation|nudges]] are more appropriate. When do you touch the wheel (the very bottom of the ladder)? If there's about to be an accident, or a high-cost mistake. If you don't trust the competency (and the potential) of the driver in general, it's better they get off the car and you take the wheel fully. Either way, as a leader you're still on the hook for the cost of the car. #published 2025-01-24