“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
― Robert Frost
Choices are very important in leadership. Making the wrong choice costs money and potentially damages the organization. The burden is on the leader for making effective and wise choices.
Not making a decision is a choice. Sometimes, paralyzed by the gravity of the choice, leaders stall and can’t decide. Not making a choice is certainly a choice.
What’s the impact of the decision on the organization?
What’s the impact of the decision on relationships?
What’s the impact of the decision on revenue…customer satisfaction…client engagement…stakeholder involvement…?
Asking these questions before making a decision helps leaders recognize the consequences of the decision.
Maybe asking those questions before not making a choice would be good, as well.
Making wise, informed choices is the duty and delight of the leader. Making poor choices can cost a lot more and, certainly, waiting to make a decision increases the cost or impact of the problem to the culture or to profit as the situation gets worse.
The most difficult of choices typically centers on people issues, such as when to terminate the employee, when to give a salary increase, when to correct their behavior, when to challenge a nonparticipating board member, etc. Each of these scenarios causes leaders to shy away from confronting controversial issues.
Pay the upfront cost and deal with the situation as soon as practical. That might be before you get the chance to confront someone on an issue. Waiting only complicates things and provides an opportunity for the conflict, if that’s the issue, to get worse. A small matter becomes nuclear over time.
Delegate action items so you can free up your schedule and your mind to think effectively about complex leadership decisions.
To decide or not…that’s the question.
OS 042: The "Shadow" that Limits Our Effectiveness with Dr David Gruder
OS 041: Leadership Skills - Use of Time
OS 040: 5 Signs That it's Time to Invest in Your Leadership Skills
OS 039: Interview with Dr. George Fraser
OS 037: Leadership Skills: Communication
OS 036: Leadership Skills: Managing Opposites
OS 035: Leadership Skills: Communication is Based on Relationship
OS 034: Leadership Skills: Validating, Asking the Right Questions
OS 033 - Leadership Resources - Personal Growth
OS 032 - Leadership Skills: Setting Powerful Goals that Work
OS 031 - Leadership Resources: Facilitation Tool - Problem Solving
OS 030 - 5 Perilous Practices That Take Good Leaders Down
OS 029 - 5 Leadership Power Myths
OS 028 - 5 Leadership Mindset Myths That Kill Entrepreneurial Ventures
OS 027 - 5 Leadership Gaps that Compromise Success and Set Up Failure
OS 026 - 5 Inherited Leadership Myths that Limit Effectiveness
OS 025 - Smart Leadership Decisions #5: Learning Effective PR
OS 024 - Smart Leadership Decisions #4: Managing Group Conflict
OS 023 - Smart Leadership Decisions #3: Background Check Strategies
OS 022 - Smart Leadership Decisions #2: Telling Your Story
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
HCI Leadership Revolution
Human Capital Leadership
The Power of Music Thinking
BusinessWISE
The Home Service Expert Podcast