Fire with Earth

Fire: “Let’s go.” Earth: “Let’s secure it first.”

What you can do (Fire)

• Get straight to the point “The goal is to launch X by this date. I need you to verify if it’s feasible.”
• Ask clearly for their expertise “Identify the 3 main risks in this for me and what we need to adjust.”
• Speak concretely, not just about motivation “How many hours / euros / resources do you think this will involve?”
• Negotiate a pace, don’t impose your own “Ideally I’d like to decide today, but what minimum timeframe seems reasonable to you?”

What to avoid (Fire)

• Applying pressure without a precise framework (“we need to get moving!”).
• Devaluing their need for control and process.
• Changing the plan every five minutes without explanation.
• Raising your voice to “push” them: they will dig their heels in and brake even harder.