The first of The Three Big Shifts Every Leader Needs to Make is how we as leaders make decisions. Because everything is uncertain and timelines have forever changed, leaders will now be expected to make split-second decisions even when there is no clear path forward.
With the pace at which things are moving and changing in our world, we need to recognize that the cost of delay is much greater now than it was before. We also need to accept that we no longer have the answers. I know that is a tough admission for leaders to make, but let’s be honest: we can’t even see around the corner to what tomorrow may bring, never mind the next quarter.
Let me share an example of how one of my clients handled this challenge.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was faced with making some tough decisions about her department’s strategy. She asked her team for input, but they seemed reluctant to offer concrete ideas. At first, she felt frustrated with what she perceived was their lack of interest and participation. But then she realized that they were afraid and feeling stuck—just as she was. They were searching for some certainty and relying on what they know worked in the past. But we all know that certainty is no longer there.
Instead of pressing them further, or giving up and making the decision on her own, she shared that she was also afraid, anxious, and unsure. That opened up a whole new conversation, and together they carved out a new path forward, one that wasn’t visible before they tapped into the collective ideas of the team.
The path forward means taking intentional action and developing the confidence to make no-regret decisions. Changing course is better than resorting to what’s been reasonable in the past—or, even worse, waiting, becoming paralyzed, and fearing the ripple effects of what could go wrong.
Every decision is a good decision—until it is not.
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