Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Command Decisions

It is a memorable day when you learn that there will be times in life when you have to make a quick decision based on partial information. You don't have time for study. You can't consult experts. Events are closing in and the worst thing you can do is freeze up. Your decision probably won't be perfect - in fact, bet on that - but it will be needed and whatever requires fixing will have to be fixed in the mud and the rain and the dark.

Critics may later question your actions and yet you have one powerful consolation: They weren't there. You were. And something needed to be done.

4 comments:

Dan in Philly said...

I am convinced it takes a lifetime of study, reflection, and practice to make split second decisions. Part of the process is knowing when you have to make such a decision and when you have to absolutely not make any decision.

I guess you can say leadership is hard.

Michael Wade said...

Dan,

I think it might take a lifetime to make the best split-second decisions, but that this form of decision making, like leadership, is learned by doing. That's why organizations need to have a bias in favor of the person who has to make a decision on the spot and not engage in prolonged second-guessing.

The lifetime study is a way of building instinct. Our consulting firm sees that in many cases. An experienced consultant will notice things that others miss because he or she has "experienced eyes."

Michael

CincyCat said...

I think people make split second decisions on a daily basis. Whether they are "good" or not is a matter of practice and intestinal fortitude, I think...

Michael Wade said...

CincyCat,

I think you're right about decisions in general and yet there is also a large number of people who freeze up when faced with a major decision.

Michael