10
Is It Soley Your Decision to Make?

Not every decision requires a sole decision maker. Many, especially in business and industry, require a number of very informed and involved decision makers to collectively make the best decision for the organization. Decisive people, perhaps like you, tend to want to “make things happen.” But sometimes it’s best to either pass the decision to someone else who may be more appropriate, or, even more common, involve others in the decision.

At other times, expediency will suggest that the decision should be made in consultation with other managers or perhaps with your boss—all of whom may well have an important stake in the outcome(s). Consider those players, and the circumstances, before undertaking the decision alone.

But you need to determine that based on the evidence. What is the nature of the decision? Who will it affect? Will it affect others besides those I am responsible for supervising? Will it affect processes conducted by others? These kinds of questions will help you determine who should be involved in the decision process.