By Kevin Eikenberry
Maybe is a powerful word. It can be a word of contemplation and consideration.
And it can also be a word of procrastination and delay, which is not as helpful.
For me, when I am honest with myself, I know which it is when I say it or think it.
I might say it hoping people think I am in consideration, when I am really procrastinating, delaying, denying, or avoiding.
Considering something is necessary and valuable. However, procrastination, delaying, denying, avoiding, etc., do not have the same value.
As a new front line supervisor, it might be even worse. Your “maybe” likely creates delay, uncertainty, and perhaps stress for others.
In leadership development workshops that I teach, decision making is a topic that always seems to come up. In consulting and coaching, I see habits and the approaches that leaders take when it comes to decision making.
Consider the situations, issues, and decisions you are thinking about today:
You could have employees whose performances are sub-par, yet no coaching is happens.
If there is a conflict, and no one decides to do anything about it, do you really think it is going to get any better without intervention?
Look around– there are decisions that you need to make that you aren’t making.
Actually, that’s not true. By not making a decision, you are deciding.
If you are thinking “maybe,” determine why. If are contemplating and gathering information, carry on. But if you are avoiding or delaying, stop.
As a front-line supervisor, making decisions comes with the territory. That doesn’t mean you should be a tyrant that decides for everyone without considering others in the decision making process. Rather, there are many occasions where including others in the process is beneficial.
Take a stand.
Make a decision.
Decide already.
Are you looking to be a better frontline supervisor? Make the decision to sign up for the next Bud to Boss workshop. You can find the details and how to sign up here.
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