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Ambition Quote by Ben Horowitz

“Most large mistakes in organizational design come from putting the individual ambitions of the people at the top of the organization ahead of the communication paths for the people at the bottom of the organization.” quote by Ben Horowitz
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“Most large mistakes in organizational design come from putting the individual ambitions of the people at the top of the organization ahead of the communication paths for the people at the bottom of the organization.”

Ben Horowitz

About This Quote

Source Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, 2014

Organizational design fails when personal ambitions outrank clear communication channels for lower levels.

In simple terms: Prioritizing ambition over communication harms structure.

Key Takeaway

Align ambitions with communication flow.

Themes

leadership organization communication

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

advisory strategic

When to use this quote

  • company restructuring
  • team meetings
  • performance reviews

Key Concepts

hierarchy alignment information flow

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can leaders balance personal goals with clear communication?
  • What structures ensure bottom‑up information flow?
A Different Perspective

If ambitions are too strong, communication may be ignored.

4.4 out of 5 (8 ratings)

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