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No Decision Is a Decision

All too often you’ve seen this. A manager has a decision to make but fails to make it. He delays it indefinitely, or puts it off because she is not ready, doesn’t have enough information, and hasn’t evaluated all the potential solutions and alternatives. And the decision never gets made.

We need to remember that this lack of a decision is a decision. And it’s a bad decision. It clearly communicates to everyone involved that the issue is not sufficiently important to this manager for him or her to actually get a decision made. Others will see that as a decision.

And it will damage the organization, the manager’s credibility, and the morale of the people involved.

Yes, there are exceptions. Sometimes not making a decision is an intentional decision to allow the situation to continue. If you are going to do that, communicate it that way. Don’t just let it sit and fester.