Let’s say you’re faced with a decision and there seem to be no definitive answer, what do you do? Despite all the data and all the input from others, you have no idea what to do next.
Let’s be honest, you’ll never know beyond the shadow of a doubt certainty the decision you make will give the desired outcome, you might be pretty sure, but you will never have absolute certainty. You night be 90% certain it will, but there’s that 10% shadow in the mix causing you to freeze in you deciding what to do next.
Some leaders, at that point, work themselves into what is called paralysis by analysis; going back and forth, drag out decisions for what seems forever. They refuse to decide unless they get one more set of data, some other bit of information designed to help push them over and decide, which leads to demanding more data, and the loop continues. This loop is problematic for leaders’ credibility.
Other leaders may take a leap of faith and make decisions on what they call a gut feeling. They are under the impression, they know best, and more data just clouds the vision the leader wants to share. One example, Las Vegas in the 90s. Resorts started to included arcades, roller coasters, and pirate shows. Someone in the City decided to go with an idea and pull the trigger on a family friendly city idea, ignoring the data that told them families didn’t want to bring kids to a city still dominated by gambling, alcohol, and adult entertainment. Soon after spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the Family Friendly Las Vegas, the casinos spend more money ripping it all out, and focusing of the old, Sin City vibe.
So, what is a leader to do? Some would say, simple find balance; but simple is never simple. There are times, like it or not, when there is no time to gather the required data and you have to act quickly. In other cases, you may have the time to gather the data and analyses to decide what to do. It should never be paralysis by analysis or just go with your gut.
In my experience as a leader, I find paralysis by analysis or go with your gut indicates you are not listening. Yes, there may be times when you have to make a quick decision or study the data a bit more before you decide, but when you work with a team you trust, decisions are easier – not easy, but easier. You may be the one who has to make the decision and hearing the voices of others, those you trust, will make the decision easier. The key is to share the information, or lack of information, you have with your team and trust their voices. You may be facing a decision you have never had to make before, while others may have faced the same or similar decision before. Seeking your teams voices does not make you a bad leader it makes you a trusted leader who values the voices of others.
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