GOOD DECISIONS REQUIRE GOOD CONFLICT
When I was growing up, there was significant conflict in my house. Nothing physical. Nothing serious. However, there were lots of arguments. My recollection is that both my father and my brother had high-strung personalities. That led to many disagreements. My mother ended up playing the role of peacemaker very frequently.
Like many young adults, I copied the approach of one of my parents when I entered the workforce. I took on the role of peacemaker:
-With my friends
-With my colleagues
-With my direct reports
I learned it’s not a very effective role to play when you are climbing the leadership ladder. It might make you feel good in the short term, but it can have detrimental effects on an organization in the long term.
I was reminded of this life lesson last week when I read a column by Dan Rockwell, who writes the daily “Leadership Freak” blog.
Dan quoted the dean of leadership, Peter Drucker, who opined that “If you have quick consensus on an important matter, don’t make the decision” because important decisions deserve significant debate.
Rockwell believes that decisions go poorly when:
-Alternatives aren’t explored
-Risks aren’t challenged
-Assumptions aren’t tested
-Smart people defer to authority
He presented four strategies for improving decisions, strategies that I try to use on a weekly basis, as I continue several volunteer leadership roles in my post-retirement stage:
-Exercise transparency and reject politics
-Give permission to be challenged
-Be willing to change your mind
-Engage other people early in the decision-making process
As I learned the hard way over decades, conflict is not inherently bad. Conflict done well, in a family or in a workplace, can be a productive and meaningful process.
Engaging in conflict the proper way requires knowledge and skill. Sometimes, as was the case with me, it requires considerable reframing.
Please remember that excellent decisions require
-Considerable thinking,
-Exchanges of ideas
-Thoughtful exploration of alternatives.
As leaders of our own families, our departments, our organizations and our non-profit organizations, it is incumbent upon us to role model good conflict that can lead to wise decisions.
It is a blessing to serve in a leadership role and to teach these kinds of lessons to the next generation and to our teammates.
What are you doing on a consistent basis to role model excellent decision-making, including the use of productive conflict?
Please share your strategies with me and I will in turn share them with all subscribers in a future newsletter.
Make it a good week. “See you” again next Sunday.
If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!
-Larry