Leaders develop a distinct relationship with the decisions they and others make. Decisions can be owned completely, partially, or not at all. Interestingly, the degree of ownership for a decision has little to do with the quality of the decision or whether the leader thinks it is a wise choice.
Even believing a decision is the right or best choice does not equate to fully owning that decision. The commitment to fully embrace a decision is left entirely up to the leader. It can never be forced or compelled. It is always a leader’s option as to how much they support or oppose any decision. When leaders fully own a decision, they hold both themselves and others accountable to every aspect of it.
While this sounds like a decision-by-decision choice, leaders relate to decisions in generally the same way. Those who are tepid with some decisions rarely make the full commitment to own any decision, even those they make themselves.
In other words, leaders typically display a common pattern of ownership across decisions, regardless of context.
A leader’s relationship with decisions has a massive impact on how effective they and their team will be over time. Teams always know exactly how committed their leader is to a decision.
Whenever a leader wavers to any degree in their allegiance to a decision, team execution suffers. Because a leader’s relationship with a decision is reflected in the plans, metrics, tactics, and timelines involved with implementing it, team performance is hugely impacted by it. When leaders hold their full commitment in reserve, team members respond in kind.
The best leaders know this and make it a point to strengthen their relationship and commitment to all decisions. They choose to own decisions completely or resist making or finalizing them. When faced with decisions from above, true leaders decide to commit, even when they disagree.
In organizations, there is no such thing as faking ownership of a decision. Everyone can tell exactly where the leader stands regarding the decision. Team execution depends on it.
What is your relationship with decisions?
