Introduction

First of all, I believe that "leaning towards safety" is very important. However, I also want to consider whether that is truly sufficient.

Advantages of Leaning Towards Safety

Leaning towards safety allows for minimizing risks and protecting brand image. This leads to long-term trust, which becomes increasingly important as organizations grow.

That said, if one proceeds with the mindset that "safety = absolute justice" unconsciously, that itself becomes a problem.

Risk of Inaction

If everything is prioritized for safety, decision-making inevitably slows down. Even when trying to take on new challenges, the questions begin to pile up: "Is there a risk check? Is there a legal review? Is there an investigation of business partners?" It is not uncommon for over a month to pass without progress.

The difference between startups and large companies often manifests in this way. Startups prioritize speed, even if it requires taking some risks, while large corporations become cautious out of fear of risk, leading to sluggishness.

Common Issues in Large Corporations

As a company grows larger, the number of stakeholders will inevitably increase. In the case of publicly traded companies, the number of shareholders expands significantly, heightening sensitivity to risk.

Various tasks arise to avoid these risks, and before one knows it, many people become overwhelmed with the "work to lean towards safety."

While this is necessary, the danger comes when it leads to cognitive paralysis. Choosing a safe option is, after all, easy, because it requires no deep thought.

However, if this trend continues, one might find themselves in an organization that can't move forward at all.

Conclusion

Leaning towards safety is important. However, without a continuous awareness of "why we make that decision?", it simply becomes a matter of cognitive paralysis.

Which risks are we willing to accept, and how far are we sure we can protect ourselves? Being conscious of that balance is what I believe leads to true growth, whether in a startup or a large corporation.