Michael Lissack
7. Make Your Own Models Explicit
We're often unaware of our own mental models until we make them explicit. Regularly articulate your understanding of situations, and invite feedback on your perspective. Ray Dalio built Bridgewater Associates into one of the world's largest hedge funds by making this principle central to the company's culture. Through practices like "radical transparency" and "thoughtful disagree- ment," Dalio explicitly shares his mental models and invites others to challenge them, leading to more robust decision-making.
8. Create Safe Spaces for Model Diversity
Psychological safety is essential for honest sharing of different mental models. Without it, people default to echoing the boss's perspective rather than contributing their unique insights. Google's Project Aristotle found that psychological safety was the single most important factor in team effectiveness, precisely because it allowed for the productive exploration of different mental models.
9. Practice Perspective-Taking
Deliberately put yourself in others' positions to understand their men- tal models. Ask "How would I see this situation if I were in their role, with their experiences and responsibilities?" Microsoft's revival under Satya Nadella was driven in part by his emphasis on empathy as a corporate value. By encouraging leaders to un- derstand customer, partner, and employee perspectives, Microsoft trans- formed from a company known for imposing its worldview to one that adapts to diverse contexts.
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