A business can be multi-faceted, and a lot of the success generated by a company comes from the cumulative efforts of every working employee. Still, none will deny that directing and leading the firm through solid and assertive decisions is what allows progress to begin. As a result, the demand for critical and flexible business leaders is growing increasingly important by the day, especially given the apparent uncertainty and volatility that’s governing most relevant markets.
However, despite the demand for better leaders, we face a severe lack of decision-makers capable of asserting smart decisions during pivotal moments for their businesses, exposing their firms to unnecessary risk. And to address this gap in direction and appropriate leadership skills, we’ll be going over the most common mistakes made due to oversight and just how we can overcome these challenges to reinforce the effectiveness of our planning and follow-through.
Never Drop An Opportunity For Rigorous Debate
Firstly, while most people view a conflict of interests as a source of problems and issues, productive and positive conflict can also offer an opportunity for healthy and rigorous debate. And when provided with an opportunity to discuss and discern areas of improvement for a specific decision that you can guarantee will result in constructive feedback. It’s time you should reshape your perspective on positive arguments and disagreements.
- Outlines Weak Points More Clearly: One immediate advantage rigorous debate can offer is the opposing party’s ability to identify and outline certain weak points more clearly that you may have overlooked. For example, a choice to revamp a firm’s current onboarding process might look beneficial at face value, but it could also clash with the surge of holiday job postings.
- Widens Area Of Understanding And Context: On a bigger picture scale, debate helps widen a decision maker’s area of understanding and also extends the context of which they view the problem at hand. There’s only so much you can account for alone, so you should entertain doubt and the feedback of others to increase your options.
Always Employ A Pilot And Testing Phase First
In addition to rigorous debate, far too many decision-makers jump the gun on a plan that looks good on paper even when they haven’t been able to test, experiment, and conclude that the results are sustainable. So regardless of the team backing, effort, and drive to push a project forward, it is always in the company’s best interests that you employ a pilot and testing phase first to avoid unnecessary failure and setbacks during actual implementation.
- Compare And Contrast Past And Current Data: We live in a world of data. Because the information builds the base for a successful pilot, we strongly recommend comparing and contrasting key points from both past and current to highlight areas of interest. For example, your tech-based company’s performance during the early stages of the global chip shortage will help reinforce good practices moving forward in this extended supply chain issue for the semiconductor industry.
- Rework Your Plan According To Changes: After a successful testing phase, never forget to rework your plan according to the highlighted changes that must be done to work around any possible shortfalls to a decision. Far too many companies test and experiment but fail to actualize their findings, so be the change and put everything learned to good use.
Don’t Finalize Big Decisions Prematurely.
Last but not least, even after you’ve discussed, piloted, and run through an extensive board meeting regarding a decision, trust your gut when it feels like your finalizing a big decision prematurely. Do your best to set a timeline that will give you a grace period to reflect and digest because there’s always the possibility of a last-minute eureka moment that could make or break your business venture.
- Let It Sleep And Revisit The Issue: While common principle would advise most businesses to act fast and strike the iron while it’s hot, there’s also merit to letting it sleep and revisiting the issue the next day. In doing so, you give all your team members and stakeholders a chance to mull things over, and when morning comes, everyone will be operating on a level mind with none of yesterday’s stressors.
- Entertain Other Perspectives And New Ideas: Innovation and ingenuity can come from the least expected of places, so when anyone from your team, be it senior management or newly employed, offers a very relevant and solid idea, please don’t put it on the back burner. It’s always the little things that zoom past our heads when we are too engrossed with brainstorming, and the last thing you’d want to happen is that new perspective to be discovered earlier by competitors.
A Firm Decision Serves A Strong Foundation For Success.
In conclusion, there’s a definite need for better decision-makers because a firm decision will serve as the foundation for all other success that comes afterward. So, if you feel the need to enable leadership training programs for your select managers, then understand that this investment will always be worthwhile.