How much ego gets wrapped into your decisions?
Can you imagine how freeing it would be not to have to dedicate so much energy to self-protection? Do you inadvertently avoid making a decision in order to avoid complaints, blame or other consequences of being the one to make the final call?
In this week’s podcast conversation, we talk about developing a secure poise in decision-making. Join us as we think about being willing to make difficult calls with limited information.
Listen in.
A timely decision in not necessarily a quick decision.
In this week’s podcast interview, Claudia and I highlight the unforgiving reality that time imposes on decision-making.
Whether we like it or not, with us or without, time marches on. We do not have the luxury of evaluating data and issues until we are certain that we’re making the “right” decision.
We offer three categories of decision-making urgency: crisis issues, functional issues, and structural issues. I think you’ll find them helpful for discerning how quickly you need to make your call and move forward.
Listen in.
It might be your decision to make, but your decision isn’t about you.
A sure-fire way to make a poor decision is to make yourself, your reputation, your authority, your work standards, or your self-perception one of the issues.
In this week’s podcast interview on being more intentional in decision-making, we share some ideas for shifting the focus of your criteria off of yourself and onto the outcome you want coming out of this decision.
In any healthy workplace culture, we are accountable for achieving outcomes. Some of us, though, find that accountability a cause for concern. Subtly our attention shifts from achieving results to how we are being viewed by our superiors. Deadly.
Our best chance for making decisions that achieve is to keep our own egos out of the equation. That may be the most difficult decision we ever have to make!
Not all our decisions are based on facts. Not all our facts are accurate interpretations of reality.
Our “take” on any given decision depends on the accuracy and completeness of our understanding of the issues involved. In other words, whether or not our perceptions are grounded in reality.
Could your frustration with a certain employee’s performance really be a frustration with your own inability to provide clear instructions? Could the recent drop in sales have more to do with a drop in product quality than the missed goals of the sales team?
Crucial is whether you have a safe way to get as many issues as possible out on the table. Are you involving others in the issue-unearthing process or are you operating in isolation? Do you have access to a variety of perspectives and sources of information?
Listen to this week’s podcast conversation and tell us how you stay grounded in reality when making decisions.
This week Claudia and I begin laying out a positive framework for more effective decision-making.
Key is becoming aware of your focus. Is it the decision itself? Is it the problem being addressed? Is it on getting enough information to make an informed decision?
We’re going to suggest you focus on the outcome you want to see result from the decision.
Listen in.
When making decisions do you rashly shoot from the hip, or analyze data forever?
This week we begin a new series on decision-making. Instead of searching for the perfect decision, we need to develop a posture oriented toward being able to assess and decide in an intentional, timely and poised manner.
We begin the series with a discussion of the decision-making traps many of us fall into that don’t serve us well.
Listen in.
New No Excuses Leadership Course
This series on Decision-Making is the first of three series that will comprise our No Excuses Leadership Course. Watch for opportunities to participate in this online coaching experience toward the conclusion of these series.
If you have a focused, hard-driving working style, it can be difficult to see alternatives that merit consideration.
In this week’s discussion of our 4th podcast on recovering from bad New Year’s resolutions, we’re looking at those who are disciplined and intentional to the point of rigidity. They’re getting amazing things done, but have become slaves to their methodology.
What we’re looking for are ways to turn the equation around and get back in touch with the original attraction that motivated the New Year’s resolution in the first place. The “means” have become the “ends,” and we want to recover our ability to identify and stay in touch with the goal (i.e. the original “ends”) we’re shooting for.
The tendency to switch attention to our means and methods can blind us to the impact our actions are having on others. Our heightened focus comes at the expense or our peripheral vision.
To focus on the means is like trying to drive straight by looking at the lines on the road. There is a limit to what you can observe by doing that. To focus on the ends is to direct your eyes down the road to where you want to end up. The steering takes care of itself and your peripheral vision is freed up to notice exponentially more.
Enhancing your peripheral vision doesn’t necessitate becoming less focused, but more. The difference is whether your focus is on the means or the ends.
Catch up on the entire series on Bad Resolution Recovery.
Are you so focused on the implementation of your New Year’s resolution that you’re not enjoying its benefits anymore?
Our final podcast conversation in this series addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the Rigid Disciplinarian.
To give this person credit, he or she can make things happen. Of strong will, they can make difficult choices and implement new patterns, behaviors and/or practices.
On the down side, though, this person often becomes the unwitting slave to the methodology. The plan has taken over. They lose their ability to use discretion and nuance complex situations. Their intense commitment can blind them to their impact on others.
Is this you? Listen in.
“Oh, did another year go by before I tackled my New Year’s resolution?”
Our third resolution maker is the “half-hearted intender.” This person may love the annual tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions, but ends up returning to life as usual with little change to show for the exercise.
In this week’s podcast discussion, Claudia and I appreciate the strengths of the easy-going, take-life-as-it-comes type of person and offer a couple of suggestions for moving forward on your resolutions without having to morph into some sort of driven maniac.
Listen in.
A strength of the cynic is their grounding in reality. Sure, maybe to a fault. But let’s not lose this gem no matter how hidden by the crusty exteriors.
When it comes to wanting change (e.g. making a New Year’s resolution), the resolution cynic actually has the most potential for choosing something within reach.
The disappointment with resolutions may come more from buying into the cultural norm of setting lofty aspirations, rather than from any flaw in the practice of an annual self review.
If you are fed up with resolutions, you may find it helpful to return to your roots, so to speak. What will work? What can I act on today? What are the obstacles and how will I address them?
Instead of giving up and blaming the resolution process when things don’t work out, trust your intuition and take a step back into a more grounded reality. It’s a harsh place, but you are comfortable there and would benefit from approaching change one harsh step at a time.
What do you think?
Listen and participate in the entire discussion on Bad Resolution Recovery here.