Ryan Reynolds Explains Why He Welcomes ‘Dissent’ on His Film Sets

Ryan Reynolds wants to be a different kind of boss.

For the actor and entrepreneur, curating an professional environment that welcomes “dissent” is the key to his success on set and in the office.

“I’m screwed if people start agreeing with me because I’m the boss or something,” Reynolds, 49, told WSJ Leadership Institute Chair Maryam Banikarim at The Wall Street Journal CMO Council Summit on Nov. 18.

The Deadpool actor heads several businesses, including Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile and the production company Maximum Effort. He has also explored Hollywood leadership, having written, produced and starred in Deadpool & Wolverine — the highest grossing R-rated film of all time.

At the New York event, the father of four gave insight about early-career trepidations he experienced, which then informed his leadership style. He began by telling Banikarim that Green Lantern, one of his early attempts to lead a superhero franchise, is a favorite of his son, Olin, 2.

“[He] watches it every f—— day,” Reynolds shared. “Do you understand the work I’ve had to do to get to the place where I can just pass by that screen and not go, ‘Well, we could have…?’ ”

Although Reynolds was hardly new to the game by the early 2010s, with previous leading roles in Definitely Maybe (2008) and The Proposal (2009), he wasn’t yet an industry veteran. At that point, Reynolds said, he was in a “Yes, sir; no, sir. How high can I jump, sir?” stage of life.

The Golden Globe nominee recalled having “strong opinions” on set as a younger actor and not wanting to voice creative disagreements. Ultimately, he changed his tune once he reevaluated the weight of his professional responsibility.

“They don’t say ‘this producer’s movie flopped’ or ‘this director’s’ — that’s me. So if I’m going to be on that headline, I’d like to be the architect of my own demise or success,” he added.

Now, having starred in the multi-billion dollar Deadpool franchise and made global investments, Reynolds sits at a different vantage point. Despite his more senior roles, he still tries to read the room. He said he will “take control” of what he’s “sure of” but still pitch jokes and lines — and be open to feedback.

“I say, here’s the s—– version, and I’m saying that because I want dissent,” he shared, noting that ingenuous agreement makes him feel “ill.”

By acknowledging his own room for improvement, Reynolds said “it creates that wonderful conversation,” thereby encouraging quieter voices on the team to speak up.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“‘Yes, Mr. Reynolds, it is s—. But what if we added this and that and this and that, and this and that?’ Next thing you know, we’re exploring some incredibly fun, sparkly idea that it gets to be executed,” he added.

No stranger to the public eye, Reynolds knows how he’s perceived after decades of success. He said he’s not in a place where he can “whine or even be in pain” but has a bone to pick with working in the entertainment industry.

Reynolds described seeing perception of his career through the lens of a parent, with his children only seeing him as “a winner.”

“That’s the thing I worry about most with this ecosystem you’re talking about here,” he said. “When I go outside, I get pats in the back, and it’s a selfie parade, and I oblige everyone, pretty much, and my kids only see that. So I’ve learned lately to make sure to talk about the failures, and that how that is literally the base and ingredient for everything else.”