Sometimes, you just gotta wait

In 2019, Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation partnered up with the NFL to advise on the social justice initiative Inspire Change and advise on the Super Bowl halftime show.

That year, the Super Bowl drew in 98.2 million viewers. It’s a coveted event for recording artists to play.

Before working with Jay-Z, the NFL would invite multiple artists to the artist selection process for the Super Bowl. It resembled a job interview process. Only one artist would get to play though, which meant that the remaining three or four artists would feel rejected and probably upset.

There aren’t that many recording artists that had a strong enough presence and body of work to play at the Super Bowl. Jay-Z realized this and noted it was possible the NFL would run out of superstar artists.  

He made a simple change: ask only one artist at a time. If they accept, then confirm it. If they decline, then move on to ask the next artist. 

People—and working relationships—aren’t fungible. If you want to do good work with people you trust, and maintain a good working relationship, you’ll need to consider how your selection process makes them feel. Don’t let a bias for action get the best of you. Restrain it, and wait a little longer until you hear back from them.

When it comes to relationships, a bias for action isn’t always the best thing. Waiting and being patient can be much more fruitful for everyone. (That’s not the same as avoiding!)

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