How Not to Sink Your Ship (or Your Next Big Idea)

A Tool to Spot Harmful Beliefs and Behaviors in Your Team or Projects

Organizations rarely fail suddenly. Like a ship taking on water through tiny cracks, problems start small and grow unnoticed. What begins with minor compromises turns into a slow descent.

Success often breeds complacency. We dismiss new competitors, stop asking difficult questions, and let outdated processes dictate how we work. Past victories create a false sense of invincibility, and the culture shifts from innovation to silent compliance.

By the time the alarms sound, the damage is done. Smart organizations catch these warning signs early. But history is full of companies that sank – not from one bad choice but from underlying beliefs, groupthink, and unchallenged assumptions that accumulated over time.

I created the How (Not) to Sink Your Ship Canvas© to help my clients recognize when they’re unintentionally heading toward an iceberg. Instead of waiting for trouble, teams can proactively address issues that could sink them.

The framework uncovers hidden risks that might sabotage your …