When you think of successful leaders you probably think of people who are decisive or authoritative. The ability to make a decision or use their authority quickly and without waffling are keystones of leadership.
But leaders change their minds every day, even at the risk of being branded indecisive or a waffler. Here’s the difference: They don’t back off a decision just because they have second thoughts. They understand when a change of plan is warranted and it affects the whole not just a few. And sometimes they take decisive action by reversing their earlier decision.
Here are some circumstances where successful leaders aren’t afraid to reconsider a decision:
Sometimes new information shows up that changes the context of a decision entirely. It may be something that was impossible to foresee, or it may be something you or your team failed to pick up on. When that happens, don’t think in terms of blame but take the new information and integrate it into the decision-making process. Later you can revisit ways to make sure your research is thorough.
In today’s uncertain marketplace and political climate , situations can go from stable to chaotic in the blink of an eye. When that happens, it’s wise to reassess decisions that are influenced by the instability and change position if need be. There’s no virtue in steadfastly sticking to a position when everything around you has changed.
Matthew (Matt) Key, Georgia
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