Make Room for the Evidence That Could Change Your Mind

A useful lesson in welcoming challenge: invite people to test an assumption, not just react to your conclusion. A general “Any concerns?” can sound open while leaving the plan untouched.

Before committing, name one assumption and what evidence would change your recommendation. For example: “I’m assuming this handoff gives its owner enough authority. What would show that the boundary is too narrow?” Then, after hearing the challenge, state whether the plan changed—and why.

That makes accountability more than defending a decision. It gives others a real way to improve it, while keeping the final choice with whoever actually owns it. A small practice: record the assumption, the challenge, and the next review point. If nothing could change the plan, the invitation wasn’t much of an invitation.