Prepare to Make Tough Decisions

Decision making skills are one of the key success factors for senior executives. You  may assume that as managers progress through organizations these skills are honed for the day when they are in a senior decision making position.  Often, a new leader finds that in taking over the helm, they feel least prepared to make the tough decisions necessary to guide their business through a difficult situation.

Tim Bowler, BBC News Reporter, writing in CEO Guru about taking decisions, answers the question, "What makes a good leader?".

"In essence, a chief executive will need to know what their mission is and why their company exists, they will need to have a vision for where their firm should go, and know how progress towards that goal will be measured. Many bosses say that most important part of their job is in dealing with a handful of really important issues, and taking tough decisions which may upset others."

 The process that an executive uses to make decisions can be greatly influenced by their leadership style. Most top CEO's will use a consultative approach, but who they choose to consult with, whether they use a small circle of inner managers, external organizations, or approach the grassroots of their employee base, will depend upon the type of issue, the time involved, and their leadership style.

The more experience one has, the more likely the executive is to easily recognize the best consultative process for the situation. The intent is to balance factors with others, who may have additional information, what option is strongest for the business. The executive however, must not loose sight of the companies true vision, and remember that the opinions of others may be clouded with different biases.

"While no decision is easy, if a CEO does not make the right choices then ultimately they may find things being taken out of their hands - as shareholders pressure the company management board to replace them," concludes Tim.

Source: CEO Guru - Taking decisions can be tough at the top | Tom Bowler | BBC News

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