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Peacetime CEO/Wartime CEO | Andreessen Horowitz
Ben Horowitz on Peacetime vs. Wartime CEOs:
Management literature is almost entirely written for peacetime CEOs. Everything you learn about decision-making and delegation and “don't micromanage”, all these things are very peacetime oriented in the sense that in peacetime, you're much more focused on the development of the people and the organization
... See moreHasan Riaz added
In peacetime, leaders must maximize and broaden the current opportunity. As a result, peacetime leaders employ techniques to encourage broad-based creativity and contribution across a diverse set of possible objectives. In wartime, by contrast, the company typically has a single bullet in the chamber and must, at all costs, hit the target. The comp
... See moreBen Horowitz • The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Peacetime CEO sets big, hairy, audacious goals. Wartime CEO is too busy fighting the enemy to read management books written by consultants who have never managed a fruit stand.
Ben Horowitz • The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Peacetime CEO focuses on the big picture and empowers her people to make detailed decisions. Wartime CEO cares about a speck of dust on a gnat’s ass if it interferes with the prime directive.
Ben Horowitz • The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Peacetime CEO has rules like “We’re going to exit all businesses where we’re not number one or two.” Wartime CEO often has no businesses that are number one or two and therefore does not have the luxury of following that rule.
Ben Horowitz • The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Peacetime CEO knows what to do with a big advantage. Wartime CEO is paranoid.
Ben Horowitz • The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Peacetime CEO spends time defining the culture. Wartime CEO lets the war define the culture.
Ben Horowitz • The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
“There are lots of good peacetime CEOs and lots of good wartime CEOs, but almost no CEOs that can function in both peacetime and in wartime. You’re a peacetime/wartime CEO.”