Why are the decisions we make so difficult, and do our people know we have the best of intentions?
The struggle is real! I have learned that decision making is difficult when you try and make as many people happy as possible. I was told once that it is impossible to appease everyone in your role as leader of an organization. As I think on this topic this week, I believe I always knew that. I am always looking to make every situation and the people involved happy with the plans and results. This is something I always strive for when I make decisions. There are situations when a decision must be made, and the people involved must accept it and move on. What I struggle with the most is the occasional interactions with people who share their dislike of a decision and are never willing to look at how the plan can work for all of us. What I have always tried to do is look at how I can work within the decisions made and find common ground where everyone works together for the common good of the organization. When I make decisions, I am not making them to offend anyone or go against the grain, but to improve the organization. Leaders have good intensions!
Our decisions have a ripple effect. Every time a decision is made there is an after effect that we know is going to happen and sometimes we are unaware of the ramifications that will occur. We all bring our own expertise and passions to the table. We all feel that our ideas are right or better. As the leader of an organization, we too feel we are right and know what is best for everyone. The leader must take in account everyone else’s ideas and make them work within the goals of our organizations. The most important thing we must all consider, is what is our overall goal? What are we here to do? Leadership must communicate the goal and create buy-in from the people of the organization. The people, at some point need to trust the plan and look and moving forward. Organizational success can only be achieved when everyone works together. Organizations can get stuck on this path.
In his book, How Successful People Lead, John C. Maxwell shares the five levels of leadership. The first level is Position, where people must follow you because you are the boss. The second level is Permission, where we need to like one another and where good relationships are made. Third is Production, where we start achieving goals and make things happen. The fourth level is People Development, when we grow more leaders in our organizations. Finally, the fifth level is Pinnacle, when everything is at the highest level. All goals are working, and everyone is work collaboratively to achieve great things for the organization. When we get stuck between the levels or do not fully step to the next level things can get difficult. Any given situation can be different. Some decisions make us feel we are at the Pinnacle level and other times we may feel we are still at the Position level. Understanding these levels, will help us to move beyond the decisions made and step into working as one unit.
How do we get to the Pinnacle level, our own idea of nirvana? The level where everyone in the organization is functioning at the highest stages to improve the goals and purpose of the organization. It can be achieved, but as I said we do not make decisions to offend other’s passions or ideas. We make decisions for the whole system we lead. It is easy for leaders to assume they know what is best for the organization, and this is a mistake often made. On the other side, the people may assume their leader has no clue what is right for the organization. The reality is somewhere in the middle and working together to find that path is what we need to discover.
How are you making tough decisions?
How are you including other people’s views and ideas?
Are you checking your attitude towards other ideas, and really considering those views?
What are the goals of your organization?
What is the purpose of your organization?
This week I hope you can make those tough decisions for yourself and your organization. Sometimes decisions are tough, but I always say we need to clear the muddy waters and see what our purpose is and if we are on track with our goals. This week I hope you not only consider your organizations path but your personal growth as well. Have an awesome week, and please leave your comments below.
Steven C. Bucks-Leading Conversations
Resource:
Maxwell, John C. 2013. How Successful People Lead: Taking Your Influence To The Next Level. Yates & Yates, Literacy Agency. Orange, CA.
