How to overpower HiPPO syndrome to make better design decisions

HiPPO: Highest Income Paid Person’s Opinion.

I know, I know, real HiPPOs don’t dress like that but that’s where creative freedom comes in, illustrated by Quovantis

If you have Lead, Manager, Director, VP, or any job title which resonates with a leadership position then you might be perceived as a HiPPO. Without you even realizing it.

Getting labeled as a HiPPO could be a noteworthy achievement of your career, but not so much when you want to make decisions harnessing the diversity and collective wisdom of your group.

You see, when you are perceived as a HiPPO, what you say — even a mere harmless suggestion — has the potential to be interpreted as a decision.

It happens because your team thinks you must be good at your job otherwise you wouldn’t be in a leadership position. Or pessimistically, it’s ultimately your neck on the line then why not roll with your decision?

It leads to poor decision making as your team members’ ideas don’t see the light of the day. And if you don’t nip this HiPPO syndrome in the bud then it eventually creates a slippery slope to autocracy — or mediocrity.

Does it mean you should stop sharing suggestions? Does it mean you shouldn’t trust your experience or intuition which you’ve sharpened, over the years, by handling diverse situations? Does it mean that you put aside the…