How Do You Make Decisions?

Some leaders have a tendency to procrastinate about making decisions due to the high level of them. They frequently ask me "How do you know when it's time to stop discussing and start acting?" There has to be a better way to get things resolved.

Rudy Guiliani addresses this common leadership dilemma in his book Leadership.

"Leaders must find a balance between speed and deliberation. One facet of making decisions involves knowing how to act when there's not much time to deliberate.

"Even though leaders should take as much time as is possible to make decisions, the process of making the decision should begin immediately. If a decision is due in five days, the time to start researching and considering the matter is now, not four days on.

"That's the percept I used as mayor. When something came up, we'd begin addressing it quickly, even as we debated and argued the best solution. I think that approach was one factor that gave the city a degree of confidence in its leadership. Sometimes people just want to see issues being addressed, even if they don't always agree with the result.

"The fur could fly at some of the meetings of my top staff. I find debates enormously helpful and would create them specifically so that I could hear more views on just about everything. If advocates express their viewpoints forcefully and with passion - all the better. I always made better decisions if I hear three or four different views."

If you've reached the boiling point on a decision and dread going back to it one more time, try out some of Giuliani's keys:

- Act fastget the decision out on the table

- Debateget as many people's views as is possible

- Set a deadline for a decision

- Communicate that decision and the rational broadly, to everyone who has an interest in it. If they don't agree at least they feel heard.

Finally, listen to anyone who has a valid opinion: "You cannot generate heartfelt debate unless the participants believe that the outcome is not predetermined. If your staffers get the sense that you lean on the opinion of someone who's high-ranking, or you chose the plan provided by a lifer, they won't feel free to share their ideas and you really need their fresh input."

See how you can make your decisions more dynamic this week. Who else should you involve? Who have you avoided? What has taken too long? Set deadlines and act! Enjoy your discoveries and have a decisive week!