As a leader, I am forced to make dozens of decisions every day. I’ve learned the secret to making better decisions faster.
When I’m pushed for a quick answer — when everyone knows a decision needs to be made now, but without time to get all the information I would normally require to make a decision…
I empower people on my team to make the decision.
Sometimes I simply don’t have enough information or enough time to gather it — even though by position the decision would normally be mine to make. It happens frequently enough that I need to have a plan for those occasions. It happened frequently when I first arrived in a new church, in a new position. But, it keeps happening. There are decisions which need to be made quickly, but I don’t know the parameters we need to make the best decision as well as others on the team.
I could slow down progress. I could micromanage. Instead I empower. That’s the secret.
In times like this, the people on our staff:
- Have more knowledge about the issue than I have
- Usually have an opinion of what we should do
- Often hope I’ll answer the way they want me to
In those times, I will ask a question, such as, “What do you think we should do?” or “Are you comfortable enough to put your name behind it?” or “What would you do if you were me?”
Then I go with their instinct — maybe even over my own.
But — and this is key if you truly want people to give you input — I let them know I will back them in the decision.
And — equally important…
I let them know they will be also held partially responsible for the outcome.
- I’m still on the hook
- I’ll support them completely
- I'll stand fully behind them
But I’ll follow their lead on the issue.
It grants them authority; it allows them to buy into the decision; it grows their leadership, and it helps move the organization forward faster.
The principle:
If you want to lead people you have to trust the people you lead and let them own decisions with you.
