Leadership Decisions

If you are in any kind of a leadership position, people are looking to you for direction on a number of different levels. Especially for making critical decisions and then taking and leading the appropriate action that will result in a successful outcome.

In many of my recent conversations with company presidents and managers, they have told me how they are once again preoccupied with decision making regarding the future. Perhaps it is topical now because as the economy changes once again, leaders will be faced with a new set of challenges. Or perhaps it is because that is the primary job of the leader.

If you really think about it, your ability to make strategic decisions and then take the appropriate action, are the skill sets that underpin vision. And vision, according to much of the research, is the most important quality of leadership.

Your focus as the leader must be on making the best possible decisions that have the greatest impact on managing, deploying and maximizing the resources necessary for success. These are your decisions and only yours to make because failure or success in these areas, will ultimately fall on your shoulders.

Managers and executives often ask me this question: ' What is the most important thing I can do to get people to buy in to my vision?' My always answer is always the same: 'Ensure you do everything possible to ensure they continuing getting their paycheck every two weeks.'

Now on the surface my answer sounds quite cold and impersonal and it is certainly not a popular response at first blush. It also some what flies in the face of all the 'talk' regarding things companies must do to get people engaged and motivated in their work.

However, after the initial shock to my answer has worn off, I frame the answer and thought process another way. And that is to consider how unhappy people will be, if and when the company goes broke and there are no more paychecks forth coming. All the air hockey games and company cafeteria's won't matter to most employees if they stop getting paid!

If you think about this simple principle, it will be far easier for you to organize all your decisions regarding how you spend your time, invest in your people and direct your company resources.

Have a good week!

Kevin