Marc Haine explains how Google's 20% time policy, which let engineers work on side projects, created Gmail and other breakthrough products. Companies that trust employees to pursue their own ideas outperform those stuck in rigid hierarchies where bosses make all the decisions.
We talked earlier about having people work within their ability outside of their job description. When Google had their 20% time where the employees were allowed to work on a personal project for Google, but they were able to work outside their job description and formulate different things. And this is where Gmail came from. They had all sorts of really good add-ons to the Google brand because of the 20% time.
Brilliant. I didn't know that. That's pretty cool. Yeah, makes perfect sense. And I'm sure Apple does something a little similar in some way.
I think all the good ones do. All the good ones figure out a way, how do I tap into the brilliance that's inside my team? How do we tap into it so that we can become better and we can evolve better? And I think where we are really held back, I think, are the old-style kind of management styles where I'm the boss and you're not. So, if I want your opinion, I'll tell you what it is kind of mindset.
