Leadership

5. Making Decisions

Once you have delegated as much decision-making as is reasonable (see 7.1), be dynamic in your own decision-making.

5.1 Many decisions can be made immediately, without consulting others.

• When the decisions only affect you, or are minor or routine.
• When an inexperienced team needs to be told what to do.
• When speed is vital. For example, when you are close to deadlines.

5.2 More important decisions should be made having consulted others.

Outline the objectives, problems and ideas and invite comments.

• Participation in the discussion helps win the commitment of those affected.
• Involve others that may know more about the issue than you.

5.3 Train your people to use their initiative, and to present you with solutions, rather than problems.