Avoid falling back on an excuse People are willing to do just about anything for their leaders as long as the leader is honest about his intentions and avoids falling back on an excuse for why he wasn't able to use an employee's idea or ask for others' opinions on a certain decision. Beware the desire for 'zero risk' Analyzing data and making informed decisions is good but the problems start when analysis is used as a crutch or to avoid pulling the trigger. You begin second-guessing yourself and giving more and more thought to 'what ifs' and before you know it, you have lost the use of speed as a competitive advantage. The team becomes terrified to move forward, and all involved find themselves playing out woulda-coulda-shoulda scenarios.