I have written a number of times about the EOS® Issues Solving Track™, also known as IDS – Identify the root cause (because the problem is really just a symptom), Discuss everything that has to do with the problem, and then Solve the problem for good. IDS is a powerful tool that helps Leadership Teams solve their company issues and make them go away forever.
Keep in mind, however, that in order to become proficient at IDS, you need to actually make a decision. We see it all the time – intelligent, capable, talented Leadership Teams that have deep discussions, yet are unable to make a decision. The two most common causes in my experience are:
1. Fear of offending someone in the company. It is critical to understand our decisions, actions, plans, priorities, etc. are not personal – they are all related to the business. One of the major accountabilities for a Leadership Team is to fight for the greater good of the organization. In order to achieve this accountability we must consider how a decision will impact the organization as a whole to ensure we are not making decisions in a vacuum. And once we have made a clear decision, we need to move forward with purpose.
2. A desire for everyone to be 100% in agreement with the decision. The best way to describe this is “ruling by consensus.” This is rarely a problem for healthy Leadership Teams that are in total agreement with the company’s Vision Component™. Every once in a while, however, someone on the Leadership Team will disagree with the final proposed decision.
And that is when we need to heed the advice of General Douglas MacArthur: “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
As long as every member of the Leadership Team can honestly say his or her voice was heard during the discussion, it is the leader’s moment to step up and make the decision.
So the next time your Leadership Team hesitates to make a decision, remember it is your job to fight for the greater good of the organization and, on occasion, the leader needs to make the decision.
EOS® Founder Gino Wickman wrote a book entitled “Traction,” which advocates a healthy leadership team approach using EOS®’s Six Key Components™. Adopting EOS® and the Six Key Components™ in your organization results in effective leadership and sound decision-making. I’d like to offer you Chapter 1 of “Traction” as a free download, so you can better understand the impact EOS® has made in businesses like yours.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about EOS®, please use the form below to request a free, 15-minute phone consultation with me. There is no pressure or obligation to move forward after our call. I’m interested in learning your business’s challenges and successes, and together we can determine if EOS® is right for you.
