Enhance the effectiveness of your decision-making by tapping the knowledge, input and perspective of others. Ask others:
- “What do you think?”
- “Who else would you recommend I ask?”
- “What am I missing?”
- “Who will this decision affect?”
As a leader, seeking the opinion of others communicates their role is important, it conveys respect and appreciation, and it strengthens their bond with you – their leader.
Asking for input from internal team members draws them in to the decision-making process and helps them feel “ownership” for the decision.
“Others” may include:
- Direct reports
- Peers
- You boss or manager
- Your coach
- A mentor
- Your mastermind group
- An outside adviser
- Any business associate who’s opinion you respect
Seeking the advice and input of others is smart business. Tapping the perspective and brainpower of others makes for better, more informed decisions. Seeking the advice of others strengthens your relationships with those individuals. It’s a win-win.
[This article was originally posted on an earlier date]
Andy Robinson, founder of Career Success Partners, is a leading authority on career success and a 15-year career coaching veteran.
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About Andy Robinson
I have seen where upper management go the way of the loan wolf – they are the ones who make decisions. This style is based on the outdated “command & control” model. Even though it is outdated it is still alive and well. Such tactics leaves a huge leadership hole where if the “leader” with all the knowledge leaves, leave the organization floundering.
I have also seen where upper management asks for suggestions from employees only to shoot the suggestions down and then ask for MORE ideas – only to shoot them down as well. I have seen an employee be a victim of this “game” – only after three attempts and put-downs flat-out asked senior management to just tell him what they wanted. Management did tell him and he implemented their changes … only for their change to fail – HARD! Of course management didn’t take any heat for their blunder. Nothing beats alienating your employees that can make or break your success!
As a result, employees stay mum about any ideas or suggestions. I wonder why?…
If ANY employee approches you (management) with a suggestion – no matter what it is, even if you had tried it before and it didn’t work, always, ALWAYS respond with a “thank you.” That employee just handed you a gift. And you want those “gifts” (ideas) to keep coming – it proves that they are thinking of ways to improve your business life, profits, production, etc.. You don’t want to shut that idea factory down – they just may have an idea that you never thought of and that can save your company money!