Unleash Speed by Removing Approval Layers—but Only When Candid Transparency Replaces Secrets

Organizations have traditionally used layers of approval to control spending, risk, and decision quality, but research and real-world observation show these controls mostly slow innovation and sap morale. Instead, transparency—whether open financial books, project data, or strategic debates—creates trust and accountability, giving people the information to act like owners. Evidence from manufacturing, tech, and service industries proves people do better work and take more responsible risks when they’re fully looped in and trusted. However, this only works in groups with high trust, candor, and the expectation that mistakes will be surfaced, not swept under the rug. When mistakes are openly discussed and lessons learned, everyone moves faster with less fear and more adaptive energy.

Try this in your class, group, or team: make key data sets, plans, or budgets available for all to see, and spend time teaching what they mean if needed. Stop waiting for, or demanding, unnecessary approval for every decision if you’re confident in the team’s competence. When something goes awry, don’t hide it—talk about what happened, what you learned, and how you’ll handle it next time. This shift will dramatically speed up your group’s progress and foster a climate where everyone feels safe to contribute ideas and take smart risks.