Making Business Decisions

Are you leading the horse… or is the horse leading you?

By Sarah Ripley, Wizard of Ads Partner

My working life is almost a decade old – quite primitive in terms of the 50 year average work life span. In that short amount of time, I have been numerously exposed to the underlying politics that exist in many workplaces, and particularly the influence certain employee personalities have on decision-making.

As a child, you are moulded to expect that people who “out-rank” you, such as your parents, teachers, family friends and even older siblings, will always have the final say. They are the boss. What they so, goes. You follow what they say. They are older, and wiser, they make the decisions.

This same attitude should in theory automatically transition to the workplace – the boss makes the decision, the employee follows. However, it seems with the introduction and encouragement of “employee empowerment” in the 1980s, the lines were blurred between empowering employees and allowing overpowering of decisions.

To define: “Employee empowerment means you give your employees the authority to do their jobs; management by consensus means you give your employees the authority to do your job.” – Roy H. Williams, The Wizard of Ads.

The role in which your employee plays with you and your business is based mainly upon the relationship you have fostered with him/her. It seem the closer the relationship, the more likely your decision-making will be influenced, (much like how you will ask your best friend for advice before you would ask a stranger).

Don’t make your employees your friends.

When you allow your business relationship to turn into a friendship relationship, it compromises your ability to make decisions in the best interest of the business. Your focus shifts to your friendship and keeping that healthy instead. This will seriously inhibit your success.

Remember that you are the decision-maker, and your role is exactly that – TO MAKE DECISIONS. It is great and often very beneficial to get the input of your employees. However, ensure their input doesn’t turn into your output.

10 years on and a little older and a little wiser…