Decision making for leaders
Leaders need to ensure that decisions are made; this does not however mean that they need to make all the decisions themselves.
Here are seven ways leaders can ensure that decisions are made:
1. Decide and announce the decision.
Review options in terms of objectives, priorities, timescale, etc. and then autocratically decide on an action and inform the team of the decision. This approach will likely de-motivate experienced teams but may be required with less experienced teams or when time is of the essence.
2. Decide and then communicate to others.
Make the decision, and then explain the reasons and the positive benefits of the decision to the team, the company, and customers.
The decision then becomes part of the team learning process, and the team's confidence in you increases rather than decreases.
3. Present the decision and invite comments.
Present the decision along with the background and invite team members to ask questions and discuss the rationale. This more participative and engaging approach enables the team to appreciate the issues and implications of all options. This approach improves satisfaction.
4. "Suggest" a decision and invite discussion.
Discuss and review a provisional decision on the basis that you will evaluate their views before making the final decision. Thus, team members have some real influence over the final decision and recognize a real contribution and appreciation of the team.
5. Present the situation for input and joint decision.
Present the options to the team. Team members are encouraged and expected to offer ideas and additional options and discuss implications of various options. Being high-involvement and high-influence is highly motivating to every team.
6. Explain the situation and ask the team to decide.
Delegate responsibility for the decision to the team, perhaps with stated limits. You may or may not choose to be a part of the team that decides. This approach requires a mature team, and major responsibility acceptance by the team.
7. Ask the team to define the problem and also decide.
With this approach, team members identify and analyse the situation, develop resolution options, and then decide on a preferred course of action. You agree to support the decision and manage implementation. This puts the team at the strategic decision-making level.
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