141: "True Buy-In Comes From Involvement" (reflections on Ashley Falsafi)
🧠 Erik’s Take
In this reflection episode, Erik revisits his conversation with Ashley Falsafi and pulls out the leadership principles that stuck with him most — especially around trust, mentorship, and buy-in.
What stood out wasn’t flashy strategy or bold executive vision. It was something simpler and harder: earning credibility the right way. Erik unpacks how Ashley built trust without being the technical expert, why most people misunderstand mentorship, and how real buy-in isn’t forced — it’s co-created.
🎯 Top Insights from the Interview
- Trust is earned through contribution. Ashley built early credibility by fixing broken systems, improving efficiency, and making his team’s lives easier.
- Fight for your people — but hold them accountable first. You can’t advocate upward if your team isn’t delivering downward.
- Mentorship isn’t luck — it’s initiative. Veterans will give back if you show up prepared and don’t waste their time.
- Buy-in comes from involvement. The best ideas aren’t implemented top-down — they’re refined with the people who live them every day.
- Psychological safety fuels better solutions. If people feel safe telling you what’s “good, bad, and ugly,” your ideas actually improve.
🧩 The Personal Layer
Erik openly shares that he “botched” earning trust early in his leadership career. That tension — between wanting authority and actually earning credibility — is one most leaders feel but rarely admit.
What resonated deeply was Ashley’s approach:
- Put wins on the board that matter to your team.
- Represent them well in rooms they don’t sit in.
- Hold them accountable so you can fight for them with integrity.
Erik also highlights something subtle but powerful: many leaders accidentally believe their ideas should be the ones implemented. But mature leadership means recognizing that your role isn’t to be the smartest voice in the room — it’s to facilitate the best solution.
🧰 From Insight to Action
If you’re leading people right now, here’s where Erik challenges you:
- Audit your trust equity. Have you actually helped your team win lately?
- Reframe mentorship. Who could you ask for help this month — and what specific agenda would you bring?
- Test your buy-in strategy. The next time you have an idea, present it as Version 1.0 and invite critique.
- Create safety deliberately. Are your people comfortable telling you what’s broken?
Leadership isn’t about having the answers.
It’s about building the environment where better answers emerge.
🗣️ Notable Quotes
“Will you fight for me?” — That’s the question every team member is silently asking.
“Spending time with you isn’t a waste. Showing up unprepared is.”
“If they don’t like it, it doesn’t matter what I say.”
“A lot of your ideas shouldn’t be the ones implemented.”
🔗Links & Resources
