320. The IKEA Effect

Key Takeaways

• People place higher value on things they help create—the core of the IKEA Effect.
• Empowering employees by involving them in decision-making leads to higher engagement, pride, and performance.
• Leadership isn’t about giving answers—it’s about creating ownership.

Actionable Insights

• Start with questions: Encourage your team to propose solutions instead of dictating answers.
• Transparently explain the “why” behind decisions to foster real involvement.
• Celebrate and give credit when your team succeeds—ownership drives motivation.

Leadership Challenge

• The next time a problem arises, ask your team, “What do you think we should do?”—and truly listen.
• Find one opportunity this week to involve your team in shaping a decision or solution.

Final Thought

The best leaders don’t build empires alone—they hand over the IKEA instructions, empower their teams to build, and then stand back proudly as the team owns the win.