A Valis principle for maximizing execution speed by eliminating decision bottlenecks. In larger companies, supervisors exist to manage details and select from options. Valis is different: we run a flat structure where each business area has exactly one owner ("king") who holds decision rights and accountability end-to-end.
As an area owner, you should use colleagues (including co-founders and other area owners) as sounding boards, not as decision-makers. The goal is to remove decision load from the execution bottleneck so work keeps moving without waiting for approvals or escalations.
By concentrating decisions with the area owner, this principle increases execution speed and reduces Coordination Costs and State Management Overhead.
This principle is operationalized by the Work Rule: No Menus Without a Proposal.
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