A leader who has to win every argument teaches the team that arguing is the job.

What a leader does repeatedly becomes the team’s idea of what the work is. Somebody who has to win every exchange teaches everyone that discussions are contests, and then meetings fill with people defending positions rather than solving anything. Conceding a point you could have won is often the most useful thing you do all week.

Pick an argument this week and let the other person have it, out loud and without conditions. Say that they convinced you. The room holds on to that far longer than any point you could have scored.