Drama Decisions Are Not Productive
Each day you have a responsibility. The responsibility to make decisions. Are you making drama decisions, or good decisions?
When your job, at least in part, is to make good decisions have you considered the information that guides those decisions?
Obstacles and Validity
It’s common that workplace leaders hear and see a lot. People run to bosses, especially middle managers, seeking an opportunity to have a voice.
They voice their opinions. Opinions that sound like facts, but are not facts. Some may be valid and reliable. Others may be nothing more than hearsay.
Your best decisions may come from careful analysis. It may mean examining the data, asking more questions, and even having the patience to allow things to unfold a little before jumping.
Some workplace leaders find themselves sandwiched between a variety of stories with little data. These stories are often embellished versions of the real story, and unfortunately an easy management trap is to listen to a few and then the last presentation seems to win.
These are drama decisions.
Drama Decisions
Drama decisions are fueled with unproductive emotions. Often arising from jealously, envy, or spite.
Voices get loud. Frequencies increase, and the outcomes feed the drama even more.
If part of your job is being responsible for making good decisions then it may be very important to consider the characteristics of the source.
Are you listening for facts and not reacting to opinions?
Is there any data to back up the message?
What is really the root cause of the scenario being presented?
You didn’t achieve a position responsible for making good decisions by often making bad ones, but could you still do better?
Have you considered the value of thinking more critically and making better decisions?
It may be a worthwhile exercise.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
