For Better Decision, Get A Red Team
Want to improve your decisions? Find out the special technique used by the US military to improve theirs and how you can apply it.
I was introduced to the concept of “red team” during the interview of the former US army general Stanley McChrystal done by Tim Ferriss¹.
This “red team” concept is not only commonly used in the military, but also in business. And indeed you could also benefit from using it in your personal life.
But before I get to explain it, let me share a story that illustrates why you need a “red team”.
Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of Samantha, a small business owner. She is facing a tough decision as she is wondering whether she should get rid of her IT manager Nigel.
He has been in the company for more than a year, but really he seems to do the bare minimum. Always strolling around the coffee machine.
He is smart — there is no doubt about this point — and he always finds cost-effective solutions to the company’s issues. But he is not proactive nor driving innovation.
Plus, over the last meetings, his attitude was deplorable. He heavily criticized the ideas of other employees, without subtlety or even care.
