Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Connie Chwan, Certified EOS Implementer™. We hope you enjoy Connie’s wisdom and perspective.
“The roads of the world are paved with squirrels that couldn’t decide.”
This insight was shared by a fellow EOS Implementer® at one of our quarterly gatherings. It paints a very clear mental picture, doesn’t it? The ability to make a decision is one of the characteristics of all great leaders. Some people are great at making decisions; others find it challenging.
Decisions exist on two levels – intellectual and emotional. Our intellect tells us we “should” do something — expand our business, resolve that personnel issue, refine our marketing plan, work fewer hours, reduce overhead.
However, until we understand the emotional side of making a decision, we will never have the gut feeling that something “must” change. Once we understand the necessity of changing “shoulds” into “musts”, we can take the necessary steps to decide. The emotional level becomes the pivotal point where we gain leverage.
Have Courage
Making decisions requires us to be brave. And if we know our organization’s Core Values, Core Focus™, target market, and long-range goal, then we have a solid foundation that supports our bravery.
Making decisions also requires we not manage by consensus. Using the “majority rules” approach to decision making will ultimately result in making the wrong decision. Why? Because voting doesn’t get to the heart of the issue at hand. Voting lets us off the hook and moves us to the easy solution.
What’s The Risk?
Leadership teams often talk about how painful it is to make a decision. They worry about hurting someone’s feelings, or making a mistake, or increasing their workload once a decision is made.
Think about the amount of pain and suffering you are enduring by not making a decision, as well as the stress your employees may be feeling. You and/or your team have been miserable for days, months, and perhaps even years because you avoided making a decision you knew was necessary.
However, once the decision is made and implemented, a sense of calm settles in. Life becomes a little easier, oftentimes leadership executes better, and everyone is thankful a decision was made.
This content was written and shared by Connie Chwan. It was previously posted on EOSWorldwide.com on May 7, 2020.
Connie is the owner of PureDirection, LLC and a Certified EOS Implementer™. She has over 40 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the health care industry, outdoor recreation, and most recently as the president and CEO of an economic development company that served as a business incubator to more than 150 Ohio-based companies. Connie has spent her career developing people, helping companies grow locally and nationally, and creating strategic alliances and partnerships.
Connect with Connie via LinkedIn.
