In today’s fast-paced business environment, lack of space for collaboration, tight deadlines, and poor communication can make it feel like there is little room for informed decision-making. Teams large and small often begin to execute an idea before concluding crucial discussions.
How much consideration do you and your leadership team give to how you settle and execute big decisions in your company? When was the last time you sat down to consider your methodology?
There’s an old riddle that tells a story of five frogs sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? Take a moment to think about your answer. We’ll come back to it.
If you’re struggling with decision-making in your organization, you’re not alone. These days, we’re asked to make decisions faster than ever, which can leave us feeling like… a lonely frog on a log. If you’re interested in inspecting your company’s decision-making structure here are a few questions to ponder:
- How do you promote teamwork across organizational divisions or departments?
- What systems are there to provide mutual support?
- How can you lead with openness, trust, and a growth mindset?
- What does it mean for your organization to ensure that decisions are made for the greater good, rather than to foster silos?
- What protocol do you have for making certain everyone on a team is heard when making decisions?
And, once you have made a decision, what happens next?
Here are five steps you can take to execute your team’s decisions effectively and equitably.
- Determine who is affected by the decision
- Identify the planned content you will share about the decision
- Decide who will communicate the decision, and to whom
- Choose how you will communicate the decision (recommendation: in-person is always best)
- Schedule when you will communicate the decision (another recommendation: as soon as possible)
Let’s go back to the five frogs – What’s your answer? Take your time. No rush. How many are left?
The answer is five.
Why? Because four “decided” to jump off. That’s all they did. And there’s a big difference between deciding and executing.
Coming to a resolution as a team before moving into action can change the spirit and feel inside your company while ensuring no one feels like they’re left behind.
Interested in changing your process and systems around decision-making? I can help. I come with over 4 decades of organizational experience and proven strategies to help your team get on the same page. Let’s start a conversation. Give me a call today, or fill out the form below to help me learn about your needs.
