The column "Leadership Whiteboard" provides a short visual leadership coaching moment. It introduces and explains a new sketch in each issue, provides leadership coaching for further development, and shares a leadership quote and recommended resources.
Leadership Whiteboard: Making Tough Decisions
By Ron Hunter Jr., Ph.D.
Leadership primarily involves decision-making. Those outside leadership may envy this power, but decision-makers understand the associated heavy responsibility. Some decisions need little deliberation while others fall into weighty categories. Significant decisions require a structured process to ensure optimal outcomes. Leaders should follow three phases: foundation, details, and communication.
The foundation for every decision should be biblical, ethical, and precedential principles. Biblical principles provide the primary filter, guiding biblical servant leadership decisions. Ethical considerations help leaders navigate decisions that may be scripturally or organizationally correct but not universally well-received, prioritizing ethical standards over individual interests. Leaders also must consider the precedent set by their decisions, contemplating their future implications and consistency. Can you live with that same decision every time and for every person who asks in the future?
In the details phase, leaders should avoid a myopic view and hastiness, fostering collaboration from other perspectives. Methods like the “Six Hats” approach encourage comprehensive thinking, averting egocentric decisions and unintended consequences. However, the details should align with foundational and missional principles. Leaders must address root causes for long-term effectiveness, not just symptoms. Leaders need to think beyond the immediate to the long-term.
Communication is crucial post-decision. Instead of merely enforcing compliance, explain the rationale, benefits, and formulation of the decision. This transparency minimizes skepticism and fosters understanding, though not all will agree. Accept that decisions may not always be seen as correct but trust in an intentional, objective process. Live with the decision, adjusting only if necessary.
