Thursday April 13, 2017 #879
“If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint a committee on snakes.”
~Henry Ross Perot
The current popularity of “collaboration” and “transparency” can have unintended negative consequences as leaders overcompensate by making even obvious decisions subject to discussion, committees and task forces, and need for consensus. The key to effective and speedy decision making is ensuring everyone knows the mission and core beliefs of the organization; you have defined delegated authority, and created a safe environment for mistakes made that adhere to these factors. In this kind of organization, when the front line person sees the “snake”, they will kill it without asking. If not, the snake will continue to roam free and cause damage while the organization forms task forces and seeks consensus. Just kill the snake.