The Role of the Decider: Why Your Startup Needs a Strong Leader in Every Sprint

In any startup, decision-making is a critical process that can determine the success or failure of a project. When running a sprint—a five-day process designed to solve big problems and test new ideas quickly—the role of the Decider is particularly crucial. As outlined in Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp and his co-authors, the Decider plays a pivotal role in guiding the team, making key decisions, and ensuring that the sprint stays on track. Here’s why every startup needs a strong Decider in their sprints and how to effectively fulfill this role.

Who is the Decider?

• The Decision-Maker: The Decider is the person with the ultimate authority to make decisions during the sprint. This is typically the CEO, product manager, or another key leader within the startup.
• The Visionary: The Decider often has a deep understanding of the startup’s goals, vision, and strategic direction, making them well-suited to steer the sprint toward outcomes that align with the company’s long-term objectives.

Why the Decider is Essential in a Sprint

1. Ensures Alignment with Business Goals

• Keeps the Team Focused: The Decider ensures that the team’s efforts during the sprint are aligned with the startup’s overall business goals. This alignment is critical for making sure that the solutions generated during the sprint will have a meaningful impact on the business.
• Prevents Scope Creep: By maintaining a clear focus on the sprint’s objectives, the Decider helps prevent the team from getting sidetracked by ideas that, while interesting, do not directly contribute to the desired outcomes.

2. Accelerates Decision-Making

• Cuts Through Debate: In a sprint, time is of the essence. The Decider’s role is to cut through lengthy debates and make swift decisions when the team is at an impasse. This ability to make quick, informed decisions is crucial for maintaining the momentum of the sprint.
• Avoids Decision Paralysis: By having a single person with the authority to make final decisions, the Decider helps the team avoid the pitfalls of decision paralysis, where endless discussions can lead to inaction.

3. Balances Team Input with Strategic Vision

• Incorporates Diverse Perspectives: While the Decider has the final say, they must also be skilled at listening to the team’s input. This balance ensures that the best ideas are considered, but decisions are made with the broader strategic vision in mind.
• Empowers the Team: A strong Decider knows how to empower the team by valuing their contributions while also providing clear direction. This empowerment boosts team morale and ensures that everyone feels invested in the sprint’s success.

4. Provides Clarity and Direction

• Sets the Course: At the start of the sprint, the Decider plays a key role in defining the problem, setting the sprint’s long-term goal, and ensuring that everyone is clear on what needs to be achieved. This clarity is essential for a focused and productive sprint.
• Guides the Storyboard: On Day 3, when the team is deciding which solution to prototype, the Decider’s input is crucial for selecting the ideas that best align with the company’s goals. The Decider helps to create a clear, actionable storyboard that will guide the prototyping process.

5. Maintains Momentum

• Keeps the Sprint on Track: Throughout the sprint, the Decider is responsible for ensuring that the team stays on track. They need to be aware of time constraints and ensure that the team is moving forward according to the sprint’s schedule.
• Encourages Quick Iteration: A strong Decider understands that the sprint is about rapid iteration and learning. They encourage the team to build and test prototypes quickly, knowing that the insights gained will inform better decisions moving forward.

How to Be an Effective Decider

1. Be Present

• Commit to the Process: The Decider should be fully engaged throughout the sprint. If they can’t be present for the entire five days, they must at least participate in key moments, such as the decision-making on Day 3 and the testing on Day 5.
• Lead by Example: The Decider’s engagement sets the tone for the rest of the team. When the Decider is committed, the team is more likely to stay focused and motivated.

2. Make Decisions with Confidence

• Trust Your Judgment: The Decider must have the confidence to make decisions quickly, even when all the information isn’t available. This confidence helps the team avoid unnecessary delays.
• Be Decisive but Open: While it’s important to be decisive, the Decider should also remain open to new information and be willing to pivot if needed based on feedback from the team or test results.

3. Communicate Clearly

• Articulate the Vision: The Decider should clearly communicate the sprint’s goals and how they align with the company’s broader strategy. This clarity helps the team understand the importance of their work.
• Provide Constructive Feedback: When reviewing ideas and prototypes, the Decider should provide clear, constructive feedback that helps the team refine their solutions and stay aligned with the sprint’s objectives.

4. Balance Leadership with Collaboration

• Encourage Team Input: A strong Decider values the team’s input and encourages collaboration. By fostering an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, the Decider can help surface the best solutions.
• Lead with Humility: While the Decider has the final say, they should approach decisions with humility, recognizing that the best ideas often come from collaboration.

Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs and Product Managers

• The Decider is Crucial: The role of the Decider is essential in a sprint, ensuring that decisions are made quickly and that the team remains aligned with the startup’s strategic goals.
• Clarity and Confidence are Key: An effective Decider provides clarity, direction, and confidence, which helps the team maintain focus and momentum throughout the sprint.
• Balance Leadership with Collaboration: The best Deciders are those who can balance strong leadership with a collaborative spirit, valuing team input while guiding the sprint toward successful outcomes.

Conclusion

The Decider plays a pivotal role in the success of a sprint. By making quick, effective decisions, aligning the team with strategic goals, and maintaining momentum, the Decider ensures that the sprint delivers valuable outcomes for the startup. For entrepreneurs and product managers, understanding and embracing this role is key to leading successful sprints and driving innovation in your startup.