On NOT Making a Decision

Leaders make decisions.

Knowing how to make a decision is a key leadership trait. More important than making a decision however, is knowing when NOT to make a decision.

Tired, overwhelmed, underwhelmed, reactive, or on the defense? Feeling let down, put down, or simply down and out? Want to make a point, create some noise or grab the control you feel like you have lost? Feeling the pressure to make it quickly, yet your inner voice is telling you to wait?

Listen to your inner voice. Take 5 (or 24), tend to yourself and don't make that decision until morning.

Photo Credit iStockPhoto 

Comments

[nevinesq]

Great post. Years ago I got "over" my tendency to overanalyze alternatives (my issue wasn't about trying to make a decision, but in trying to make the "best" decision). That said, I have had problems working with people who can't (or won't) make decisions. At the risk of sounding autocratic, teams are frequently decision-making killers. I am convinced that some managers USE teams as a means to avoid making decisions (and/or to avoid responsibility for those decisions). Moreover, NOTHING is more demotivating (in my experience) than making a decision, and having that decision undermined and/or second-guessed by a boss. When a new boss does that, he/she can just count on having instilled a culture of dependency.

Of course, in my experience, those manager/bosses then use that change in behavior as the excuse as they continue to insist that every decision flow back through them - - - even as they complain that nobody will make decisions...

[Lisa Rosendahl]

Ah, yes - that's me - trying to make the best decision. For me, I always have an initial, first, off-the-cuff reaction quickly followed by some noise. Often times I can cut through the noise very quickly but sometimes (especially with staffing decisions), I need to step away a bit for some clarity. Appreciate the comment!

[Wally Bock]

Excellent point, Lisa. Many of the problems that are presented to managers don't need a decion right away. So starting with the question, "Do I need to make a decision right now?" can be very helpful. But then you have to ask "Am I able to make a decision right now?" as well.

There are a number of issues that don't require a decision at the moment, but for which a decision doesn't get better with delay or study. For those, you're best off to decide and move on.

BUT, as you point out well, there are situations where it's best to get some rest or get some distance. Alas, there are too many managers for whom waiting, studying, pondering, and hoping is the default.

[Ben Eubanks]

Funny you mentioned sleeping on it. There was an interesting news piece the other day on that topic! http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20091027/sc_livescience/whysleepingonithelps

Great post!

[jonathan]

Hmmm I have to disagree slightly. Unfortunately, if you end up doing NOTHING - putting off the decision so long - SOMETHING will eventually happen. Many people will just try to postpone the decision to make whatever the trouble was go away - and it doesn't work like that...