With busy days and the fast pace of work, it's understandable why so many teams jump from idea to basic plan (maybe!) to action. In our desire to move quickly, we forget that when we do so, we risk making bad decisions, resulting in wasted resources and, ultimately, not achieving what we set out to do. This is where upstream work plays a crucial role in getting alignment and clarity, readying us for successful execution.

Today's guest is Atif Rafiq. Atif has blazed trails in Silicon Valley and the Fortune 500 for over 25 years. After rising through digital native companies like Amazon and Yahoo!, Atif held C-suite roles at McDonald's, Volvo, and MGM Resorts. He rose to the President level in the Fortune 500 and has led thousands of employees as a global P&L, transformation, and innovation leader.

Atif and I talk about his approach for upstream work, which he calls decision sprints, that help teams and organizations prepare for effective execution. He explains the difference between upstream and downstream activities, the three phases of upstream work, the importance of psychological safety in organizations, and more.

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Conversation Topics

(00:00) Intro
(02:04) What is a decision sprint?
(03:50) Significance of psychological safety in upstream work
(07:58) The role of questions in innovation, strategy, and growth
(10:08) Examples of how and when to ask questions
(13:46) Why alignment matters for execution
(16:30) What do meetings look like when you are trying to come to an alignment?
(20:55) Decision meetings as work accelerators
(23:19) How to make better decisions at a team level
(26:37) A great manager Atif has worked for
(28:34) Keep up with Atif
(30:24) [Extended Episode Only] How to integrate decision sprint workflows into your team or organization
(35:18) [Extended Episode Only] Ways to determine what questions don't need answering
(36:53) [Extended Episode Only] Big lessons from McDonald’s

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

Keep up with Atif Rafiq:

- Follow Atif on LinkedIn here

- Subscribe to his newsletter here

- Visit Decision Sprint for more information here

50% Discount on Decision Sprint Workshops

Members get a 50% discount on Decision Sprint workshops. These are 1-2 day workshops, virtual or in person, where your team or organization will get to experience the decision sprint workflows directly, enabling you to accomplish work together during the training as well as prepare to integrate the method going forward.

Get these guest bonuses and many other member benefits when you join The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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290: Why Upstream Work is Crucial For Better Decision Making and Execution with Atif Rafiq

The Modern Manager