A secret to unlocking more clarity, success (and even joy) when building products is to see how most of us, across companies of all sizes and growth rates, are actually being driven by ‘Corporate Algorithms’. We think we are acting independently and making our own decisions, but instead we are mostly acting as implementers of these Corporate Algorithms. The way out is simple but not easy: recognize when this is happening and substitute it with a culture of clear thinking. As a leader, you can do this by asking simple questions that get to the root of the matter (start by asking those questions to yourself first!) And it only works if you genuinely want clarity — it will not work as a hack or a process you’re forcing on others. A video that expands on this topic of Corporate Algorithms vs. Clear Thinking, along with a couple of examples: