Speak Last and Read the Room

"Don took pains never to speak first and almost always spoke last. He was very aware of what would happen if he voiced his opinion before others and went to great lengths not to influence the jury. Instead he wanted to hear from everyone and, because he was such a skilled poker player, it was usually difficult to discern whether he agreed or disagreed with the sentiments that were expressed."

"Whenever emotions or tempers ran hot he would try to calm things by saying, ‘The enemy is outside the gates. Not inside.’"

"Ego and greed were the two perils with Sequoia that he saw as far deadlier than anything competitors might do to us. Sometimes, during meetings with guests, when all eyes were focused on him, he would deflect attention by inviting others to take the floor. (I’ve often thought that Sequoia’s  longevity is due to just one thing: unlike many other partnerships, we have refrained from killing each other.)"