Actual package delivery outside on Thursday.  Post delivery person didn’t even have the energy to hit the doorbell by the time they finished piling everything up.

Good morning, Leaders! It’s Friday!

Leaders can get pulled into making many decisions in a single day…if they allow it.  I maintain this shouldn’t happen in a well-run organization.  It’s as easy to get pulled into the knock ’em down decision making as the one click order button with Amazon Prime or calling in to QVC (Ahem).

One of the most critical steps required in good decision making is to separate wants versus needs. At home, that line can get blurry and the control mechanism might be your check book balance. In business, the line moves constantly and requires diligence, solid and defensible logic and a strong constitution to live with the decisions, no matter the amount of criticism that comes from those with less perspective.

It may be hard for some to discern between a cost and an investment.  For instance:
The perspective varies between long-term employees worrying about bonus distributions at the end of the year compared with the new-grad-recent-start who wants to see investment in Information Technology, equipment and updated systems and processes that will make them more efficient, mobile and effective.

I remember the day my CEO predecessor ordered a pile of new computers from Gateway when they shipped them in cow-pattern boxes. It was a visual and an affirmative decision statement sitting in the foyer of the business, saying under his breath, “Hell yes I just bought tens of thousands of dollars worth of computers. We were underinvested and we need to give tools to our talent.” Point well made.

I’ve also witnessed the other end of the spectrum where Chairmen and Board Directors get in the weeds on things they feel strongly about.

Folks,

•That defies good governance

•That ignores role clarity

•That undermines the significance of the established, responsible leader

If those misguided people WANT to run operations, they NEED to get their own damn company to run.

Whether at work or at home, make sure the vision and the actions are aligned. Create a good plan, review the plan often and stick to the plan.

Have a blessed weekend!