Simple Strategy for Difficult Problems
Josh Turner
Sold my 2 main businesses from 2021-2023, now focused on dad life + doing some consulting. WSJ Bestselling Author, Inc 500/5000 multiple times, aspiring to be a better fisherman.
As a leader, people come to you for decisions, help with problems, etc.
Sometimes you may not have the conviction to make a decision right away.
Many years ago, I viewed this as a weakness.
If I wasn’t able to quickly see the solution, well then I must not be the best. If I can’t act decisively, then the rest of the team will see me as weak.
Over time I realized this was wrong.
I realized that people don’t care as much as you think they do, about making decisions right away.
Actually most people aren’t sure what the best path is either. That’s why they’re asking you to make the decision. Sometimes they think they know, and make a recommendation. That doesn’t mean that’s the right way to go.
One of the most powerful tools that leaders have in our arsenal is the ability to say “Let’s sleep on it.” Or, “Let me think about this and get back to you.”
Almost never does somebody have a problem with that.
I find that it takes courage to admit that you don’t know the answer right away. It’s not weakness, it’s strong leadership.
The magic in this is at least twofold:
Not a week goes by when I don’t use this tool.
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It might not even be when working with others. I may be working by myself on something, and not sure the direction to take it. Time to sleep on it. Come back to it. Sleep again. Repeat.
And so, there are times when an emergency requires a fast decision. In these times, you do your best. I find these to be few and far between. Waiting wins out most of the time.
I’ll be going live tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon central for my show Mostly Business. Would love to have you there!
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Thanks,
Josh
Josh Turner
Multiple times Inc 500 + 5000, Sold multiple business for 7 figures plus, WSJ Bestselling author, helping businesses like YOURS get more leads and clients (reach out if I can help).
You got traditional system? I can have it systemize, digitized using top level SaaS tools, drop off your inquiry time to say goodbye to old ways and say Hi to the end of the begging.
2 个月The insight needed to hear. Thank you Josh! My go to was write down the issue, sleep with it and repeat until solutions emerge.
Operations Manager at Think Tank Business Services
2 个月My favourite go to is "how would you like to handle it?" But I could definitely be deferring some decisions. Perhaps it's less confrontational to suggest the decision can wait a little while. I imagine they'll still work through it in their head. But then is the goal to get your team to put the problem down, or simply not bother you with it? I'm unsure how I feel about that. Certainly I know there are a plethora of decisions I don't need to be involved in, but I wonder which is more effective leadership? Letting them work through it, while you're simultaneously (but separately) working through it. Effectively costing both of you time, and energy both at work and at home later. Or working through it with them in the now. Would it be better to sit on it during the work day, but solve it within the scope or that same day? I don't know. But I certainly feel uncomfortable with normalising taking conundrums home with me. Or worse, sending them home with my team who don't get paid to give up time they should be focusing on themselves and their family/friends/pets/Xbox.
Community Development/Security
2 个月No thanks.
Create Collaborate Communicate
2 个月Yep, let it stew
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2 个月Once again, great information presented with insight and in a clear manner. Thank you! Where a leader might not, in most instances, make a decision immediately, I believe that leaders do need to address the problems brought to them at some point and in some way. often the most difficult point is in framing or identifying the problem. I shared some of my thoughts on this in my recent post on LinkedIn entitled Thought Leaders and Asking Questions | LinkedIn