5 ways to manage your own indecision as a leader

This article is a direct response to HBR Elizabeth Lotardo 's article: "How to Work for a Boss Who Always Changes Their Mind".

As an executive coach who works with clients in leadership positions, and as a CEO myself, reading this article hit me differently than perhaps the average reader. Surely, it is useful for the employee to know how to speak with their boss in a way that ensures that time and effort invested in a project or strategy doesn't go to waste due to the whims of the boss. Lots of useful tips were presented in the article from this perspective.

But here's the thing.

From the perspective of the boss, this is the landscape that their dealing with...

It has become more difficult than ever to be a leader, spearheading an organization forward on the one hand, while being responsible for the team on the other. Technology is changing and accelerating at the speed of a rocket ship. It simply has gotten incredibly difficult to keep up and to stay relevant. On top of that there's the access to infinite amounts of information, requiring the ability to filter out the incorrect and irrelevant from the imperative and useful.

For these reasons it is required for you as a leader to become masterful at

1) discernment,

2) decision-making, and,

3) communication, in order for you to stay relevant as the boss but more importantly for your organization to flourish. Let's face it, the success of the organization begins at the top and flows downwards.

So if you're a leader that deals with indecision on a daily basis with questions like:

• What if this is a mistake?
• My competitor is doing this, should I do the same?
• Will I be judged for making the wrong decision?
• Will this decision ensure that we hit the targets?
• Is this what's expected of me?
• Am I a lousy boss if I make the wrong decision?

Here are some things that will help you overcome the hurdle of actually making a decision.

1. Perspective

Yes you might feel the weight of a decision on an urgent matter right now, for example, what marketing strategies for the organization to focus on right now, but in the grand scheme of things, is it really that important? Just as easily as you can make a wrong decision, you can make a right decision, undoing the impact of the wrong decision moments later. You have the right to change your mind. You don't have to fit into the mold of the all-knowing, strong, perfect leader who never makes mistakes. If anything it is the leader who dares to be human, admitting their flaws, communicating their mistakes but demonstrates resilience and will pick themselves up, and others in the face of difficulties, that gains the respect of their employees.

2. Time ads pressure

The perception of the weight of a decision increases with time. In other words, you may feel that you need to spend more time to find the right decision but it's that investment of time that is making it harder to make the decision in the first place. Therefore, it's a useful skill for you to master to inform yourself quickly but then make the decision quickly as well. Consciously train yourself to become quicker at making a decision. 1...2...3...there's your decision. Well done!

3. Don't catch the virus!

If you find yourself looking at what your industry competitors are doing all of the time, then congratulations, you have caught the nasty virus of comparisonitis. If you're constantly trying to see and emulate what others are doing you're always going to be one, or two steps behind your competition. If instead you aim to be an innovator and a trailblazer, coming up with solutions that no one even thought of yet, then you will always be ahead of the competition. Now you may ask: "What do I need to do to be an innovator?" This is where you need to focus on conditioning yourself on a daily basis rather than thinking it's a one and done exercise. This brings me to the next point.

4. Stupid idea time

In order to be a true pioneer and innovator you need to allow lots of time and space for thinking, reflecting, coming up with stupid and not so stupid ideas - in other words being creative. And you need to have a trusted feedback loop where you can safely have your ideas heard and tested before bringing it to your team. Hiring a coach is a must! Tools to add to this time that will help you access your creativity are: meditation, breathwork, and journaling.

5. Excitement doesn't last

As an energy excitement is like the initial spark of the ignition but it's not the fuel that keeps the machine going. Therefore, you can make an informed decision based on your and your advisors analysis, and then you have to stay committed to that path for an adequate amount of time before you pivot to another direction. If you notice that you're an excitement junky, know that this is the main reason why projects have failed in the past. New strategies need time to mature before you can see their fruits. You've got to be patient. In order to combat this tendency, you need accountability to mitigate this tendency.

In conclusion, while the HBR article provides valuable insights from the employee’s perspective on how to handle a boss who frequently changes their mind, it’s crucial to also consider the challenges from the leader’s side. Today’s fast-paced, information-saturated world makes leadership more complex than ever. As a leader, you're not just responsible for decision-making but for guiding your entire organization toward success while navigating constant changes.

Indecision often stems from the immense pressure to stay relevant, competitive, and, most importantly, to avoid making mistakes. However, embracing the reality that mistakes are part of growth, allowing time for creativity, and resisting the urge to compare yourself to others can transform indecision into confident leadership. By mastering discernment, speeding up your decision-making process, and cultivating creativity, you'll find that the best leaders are not those who never falter, but those who adapt, innovate, and push forward despite uncertainty.

At the end of the day, the success of an organization begins with you as a leader. Being open to learning, admitting your vulnerabilities, and investing in your personal and professional growth—such as through coaching—will not only help you make better decisions but ensure that your organization thrives in an ever-changing landscape.