Beware of HiPPO
The HiPPO - the Highest Paid Person’s Opinion. In theory, this “opinion” is the product of years of experience, skills, and innovation backed up by the resources needed to get the job done. Usually, this person is the highest paid for many good reasons. Sadly, this is not always the case.
Before going too far, I want to be clear about the topic at hand. A HiPPO can be a sign of many other unhealthy workplace dynamics - toxic or dangerous management, distrust in the workplace, personal prejudices, and even simple communication misunderstandings to list just a few. All of these topics are much bigger than a single post, so I want to stay narrowly focused today on the HiPPO itself and what to do about it.
A HiPPO can emerge at any point, often blind-siding everyone, stomping everything around them, and casually plopping down to ensure no one can get around it. When the HiPPO surfaces, it generally isn’t interested in hearing anyone else’s perspective, certainly doesn’t care who is displaced or trampled by it, and generally refuses to budge in any way. It can be a minor font request on a design piece, to a major new corporate direction, with varying degrees of impact. The HiPPO seems overall random, intrusive, and intransigent.
What’s the difference between a HiPPO and a wise leadership choice? A wise leadership choice is generally based on demonstrable evidence, open to rational discourse. The final choice may not change, but other angles are taken into consideration. A HiPPO generally comes from personal tastes and wants, with little interest in hearing anything different - the HiPPO is basically self-centered rather than evidence-centered.
Now that we have a basic definition to identify a HiPPO, what do we do about it? I recommend a three-step decision-making process.
Does this matter - to the organization or to me?
If it does, what am I going to do about it?
How will I be OK with the outcome?
The first one may sound trite, but it’s critical to understanding how vested we want to get in the situation. The HiPPO is here - does it matter? You are told to use Futura font instead of Times New Roman. Is this something you are personally invested in? Does the company brand guideline conflict with this? Is the font going to make or break whatever design is in place? If the answer to these and similar questions is a flat “no,” then maybe this is a rather benign HiPPO not worth poking at.
I already hear the responses of, “But I don’t have time to make these changes,” or, “But this always happens.” Those are separate issues, not what we’re focusing on here. A HiPPO can be a symptom of other problems, and sometimes we need to calm the cough before we can address the root disease.
Next up, we have to decide what we’re going to do about the HiPPO. If we identify that it doesn’t matter, then we let it go and move on to other issues. If it does matter, even just to us, then we have to think about our next actions.
Let’s start with communication. Maybe this isn’t really a HiPPO, but just a misunderstanding. Maybe some important information was missing, and pointing that out gets the HiPPO to move along. Human brains like to draw patterns, and reach the quickest conclusion. Force it to slow down and verify.
Addressing a true HiPPO can be complicated, especially since by definition it doesn’t really want to listen to us. This is where evidence - brand guidelines, previous data, insights from experts, research, even back-up from other staff members - can be helpful. If it’s something you are personally invested in - maybe you felt ignored or railroaded - a carefully thought-out conversation with your supervisor may be helpful. Last but not least, especially when the HiPPO is a potential danger to you or the company - “Who cares about laws? Let’s sell Lotto tickets to children and make millions.” - document, document, document. If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.
Running your concerns by someone you trust to get a second opinion before you poke a HiPPO can often be a helpful check on your own perceptions. Taking time to process - stepping away for at least 15 minutes, even a night if possible - can also help you collect more concise thoughts and avoid saying things from a place of emotions.
I already hear the same complaints of, “But it never works,” “I’m so sick of being the ‘adult,’” “But they never listen to me,” and many variations on this line of thinking. Again, these are completely different rabbit holes to explore at another time. If you’re having these thoughts consistently, I’d start wondering if the HiPPO is the real problem or just a symptom of something else.
In the final analysis, remember that you can’t force a HiPPO to learn, but you can offer them opportunities. What they choose to do with that opportunity is on them.
Finally, we need to decide how to be OK with the final outcome. You can provide a thorough, well-researched presentation on why Times New Roman is the perfect font for the document you’re writing and still be completely ignored.
In the final equation, we cannot control anyone else’s actions or responses, only our own. Can you be proud of your efforts? Can you feel accomplished in knowing that you lived up to your own personal values? Do you have sufficient protection in case the HiPPO chose to stomp on a landmine?
You will not always see choices made that you agree with, and your effort will not always be recognized or appreciated. Make sure that you are making choices for yourself, choices that help you be the person you want to be in your professional and personal lives both. And if there’s a conflict, or you can’t be OK with this particular HiPPO, it may be time for a change yourself.
“Oh, crap, what if I’m the HiPPO?” First, even asking that question is a good sign. We’ll talk about that another time since this is already long enough.
