In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, host Paul Alex Espinoza explores how leaders can invite useful disagreement from their teams. He explains why immediate agreement may leave important information unspoken and why people closest to the work may see problems leaders have missed.
Paul outlines a standard for raising concerns: name the problem, give the supporting facts, and offer a recommendation. He also argues that leaders should listen before defending the original plan, explain their reasoning, and say so when better information changes their mind.
Listeners will learn why asking what could make a plan fail can expose weaknesses early.
In this episode Paul Alex Espinoza
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Welcome to the Level Up Podcast. I'm your host, Paul Alex. I went from being a cop to an 8-figure entrepreneur that helps average people like you and me make money every single day. I created this podcast to help you get motivated and to crush your goals. Let's win together.
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What's up everyone? Welcome back to the Level Up Podcast. I'm Paul Alex, and today we're talking about the meeting where everybody agrees with you. That might feel good. It doesn't always mean you have a good plan.
If the people doing the work see a problem but won't tell you, how are you supposed to make a better decision? I want to develop leaders. That means I need people who can think, communicate, and take responsibility. If I ask them for judgment and then treat every different opinion as disrespect, I'm making that harder. You can be responsible for the final decision and still need information somebody else has.
Their view of the work may include something you haven't seen. Make it clear what useful disagreement looks like. Ask what problem the person sees, what facts support the concern, and what they recommend. That gives you something to discuss. A vague complaint and a well-supported concern don't need the same response.
Then, listen long enough to understand. If you answer every concern by explaining your original intention again, you may miss the information that would improve the plan. You don't have to accept every suggestion. Explain what you considered and why you're choosing a direction. If you change your mind because someone brought better information, say that.
It shows people what kind of contribution helps. And when someone raises a problem early, don't make them regret giving you time to address it. You can deal with the issue and still appreciate being told before it became worse. At your next planning conversation, ask what would make the plan fail. Give people a chance to answer before you defend it.
You may find a weakness you can fix while the fix is still simple. Bottom line? Agreement is useful when people have had room to think and speak honestly. Make the standard clear. Ask for facts.
Consider the concern. Then make the decision. A team that can help you see a problem is more useful than a room that only repeats your opinion. Thanks for tuning in to the Level Up Podcast. I'm Paul Alex reminding you that leadership includes being willing to hear what improves the work.
Invite the truth, make the call, and as always, keep leveling up. Thanks for listening up to the Level Up Podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to share it with a family friend and everyone you know who's ready to level up. Leave a 5-star review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you tune in. It really helps spreading the word.
And, and don't forget to check out officialpaulalex.com for more episodes and resources to kickstart your journey. Let's level up together.
Everyone agrees with your plan. That feels reassuring. But would someone tell you if they saw a problem you had missed?In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down how leaders can invite useful disagreement, evaluate concerns, and make better-informed decisions.Paul connects this lesson to his goal of developing leaders who think and take responsibility. People closest to the work may see information you do not. Your response to a different opinion helps determine whether that information reaches you.Set a clear standard for raising concerns: identify the problem, explain the supporting facts, and offer a recommendation. Listen before defending the original plan. You can consider feedback seriously, explain your decision, and acknowledge when better information changes your mind.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why immediate agreement may leave important information unspoken.• What makes a concern specific enough to evaluate.• How explaining your reasoning supports useful team contributions.• Why asking what could make a plan fail helps expose weaknesses early.The truth is simple:Leadership requires enough openness to hear what could improve the work. Ask for facts, consider the concern, and take responsibility for the decision.Give people room to speak before problems grow.Build a team that helps you see more.---Your Network is your NETWORTH!Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDAD1JyGGzSQUPD9lc9HQLinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you:www.CashSwipe.comFREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com