We hear a lot about elephants in the room.
But in my experience they’re much less common than HiPPOs. What exactly is a HiPPO?
It’s the Highest Paid Person’s Opinion.
They’re easy to spot, because very often they often bring the conversation to an early conclusion. The opinion might well be right, of course. Based on expertise and experience, insight and intellect.
But it might also be wrong, trading too heavily on status and precedent.
If you’re lucky, you might come across the lesser spotted HiPPO – the Highest Paid Person’s Openness. Willing to contemplate change, new ideas, new voices, and the possibility that someone might know more than they do.
You can find both types of HiPPO all over the place.
Not just when the CEO or MD emerges from the undergrowth, but when an account manager briefs their more junior team. Or even when the account exec updates the trainees and interns.
They’ve even been known to crop up in mirrors.
Which is intriguing, because then you can decide which type of HiPPO you want to be.
