Page 205 - 4- Leading_from_Within

important than others. Some people put off making decisions by endlessly
searching for more information or getting other people to offer their
recommendations. Others resort to decision-making by taking a vote,
throwing a dart at a list, or tossing a coin.

It is important to note that each leader also has his or her own leadership

style. When making decisions, it is important that leaders stick with their
own preferences and leadership style as much as possible. However, they
must balance their style with the interests of others in the organization. If a
leader has an autocratic style, for instance, he or she needs to weigh his or
her own independence in decision-making with the desire of the
employees to participate. A more accessible leadership style helps get
employees involved, but there may be a need to act autonomously when

time is of the essence in a decision.

We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They

get run down. Aneurin Bevan.

As important as making good decisions is, many often find it hard to make
decisions, especially those that are more difficult or complex. This is

especially true in organizations. Effective leaders in those organizations do
not make decisions in isolation. Although these leaders may carry the
burden of key decisions for the organization, they also have the
responsibility to make sure that decisions get made at all levels of the
organization. Therefore, they work with others to improve the
organization’s processes, structure, and effectiveness by engaging them in
their own level of decision-making and reaching appropriate conclusions.

Doing this effectively not only improves the quality of the decision, but
also ensures that everyone is more committed to implementing it. This
increases the motivation of employees, which results in higher productivity
and customer service. Regardless of how difficult and complex
organizational decisions are, the final decisions will have a significant

impact on staff, stakeholders, and customers.

When decisions are made in groups or organizations, clearly the process is
more complex and challenging than faced in personal decision-making.
Group decision-making also provides a number of benefits, although

David Kolzow 205