Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential
Issue 7.52 - December 27, 2010 ISSN: 15516571

In Kevins Own Words

Nurturing Decisive Followers

I was asked a question recently in a workshop that I thought was interesting. It was something I didn't have a chance to answer completely in that setting:

How can I nurture decisive followers?

With the benefit of time and reflection I can give it a more complete answer. But before I do, I want to point out the three reasons this is a very insightful question:

• Decisiveness is a valuable skill - one that as leaders we should want others to master.
• It properly implies the leader's role in nurturing this skill. Whether it's decisiveness or another skill, nurturing skills is clearly part of a leader's role.
• Asking the question is the first step to finding a solution!

However, beyond asking the question, there are some things you can do as a leader to help others become more decisive:

Set a good example.

The best place to start is to be decisive yourself. It is pretty hard to encourage someone else towards a behavior you aren't exhibiting yourself. If you aren't very decisive, start by working on yourself first.

Set a clear expectation.

Let's face it - not every leader in the world wants their team members to actually make decisions; many want control of all the decisions themselves. Perhaps your organizational culture or someone's past work experience doesn't make it clear that you want your team to make decisions. If you want people to be decisive, you need to make it a clear expectation. Let them know - clearly - that you want them to make decisions, and in what situations.

Reduce the perceived risk.

Setting expectations starts to reduce risk, but there is more here too. Ask yourself this: how do you treat mistakes? If you tell people you want them to be decisive but mistakes are punished, how many decisions do you think people will make? If you recognize mistakes can be learning experiences, then let people know that and behave accordingly. Doing so is one way to reduce the risk people may perceive in making a decision.

Set boundaries.

Let people know what decisions you want them to make and when. Boundaries could be in relationship to budget or any other factor. Letting people know the acceptable and expected boundaries makes it easier and more comfortable for them to make decisions.

Provide coaching.

As with any other skill, as a leader you can provide coaching. If you have done the steps above you have set everyone up for greater success in coaching. Decisions making is a skill and so coaching is an appropriate and effective way to nurture it.

Let them decide!

This is perhaps the most important step of all! As with any skill, it takes practice to get better! Set the expectations, set the boundaries, provide coaching and let them do it.

These steps will put you on a path to having more decisive followers. This goal isn't just a nice thing to do, or a delegation tool. As you develop decisiveness in yourself and others, you create a more positive, engaged and productive workplace. If you want those things, decide today to help others be more decisive!

Comments

Leaders must think about decisions in new ways – and the broader implications of all decisions made! This is just one of the challenges for leaders, especially new leaders. If you find yourself in this leadership situation, you might consider reading From Bud to Boss – Secrets to a Successful Transition to Remarkable Leadership written by Kevin Eikenberry and Guy Harris. Learn more about this book and how you can join a community of learning leaders who are succeeding in this transition (or helping others do the same) This article is from Kevin Eikenberry, the leading expert on creating remarkable leaders. Kevin also is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer, consultant and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group.

Kevins Recommends

Six of My Favorite Books of the Year

As long time newsletter readers know I read a lot. I don't blog about everything I read, though perhaps I should. I've had people tell me that reading my resource recommendations is dangerous . . . to their pocketbook! I won't apologize for that - reading good books is a great way to intentionally learn, about anything you choose.

If you enjoy my recommendations, but have a hard time deciding which ones to purchase, maybe this will help. It also might shed some light on who I am, where I am in my leadership and learning journey and what my interests are right now.

Of all the books I read this year, these six stand out. Not because they are the only great books I read - I ready MANY great books. However, here are my criteria for this list: These are the six books I talked about, mentioned, commented on and referred people to throughout the year. It is that simple.

And so, without any further commentary, here they are, listed in the order I wrote about them, with links to the blog posts that recommended them originally:

Fascinate by Sally Hogshead.

If you want to be more influential, more persuasive and do both from your strengths, you will want to read this book. It is interesting, instructive and, well, fascinating!

Here is my original recommendation.

The Myth of Multitasking by Dave Crenshaw.

One particular idea in this book - about "switch" tasking - seems to come up in every workshop I lead.

Here is my original recommendation.

Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

As an author I was (and am) envious of this title. The book does the title justice. It's a valuable book on a profoundly important concept.

Here is my original recommendation.

Making Them Believe by Dan Kennedy and Chip Kessler.

Doctor John Brinkley made a name and fortune for himself in large part by convincing men that goat testicles were the key to success in a pre-Viagra world. The most interesting marketing book I read this year.

Here is my original recommendation.

Good Boss, Bad Boss by Robert Sutton.

In his follow-up to The No Asshole Rule, Bob writes a better book. I'd bet I'll read it again in 2011.

Here is my original recommendation.

The Truth About Leadership by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner.

Jim and Barry have been writing about leadership for a long time. I think this is their best book and that very leader needs to read it.

Here is my original recommendation.

Comments

Home | About Kevin | Archive | My Subscription | Contact Us

If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. You can forward them the email or go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/tell.asp to use our Tell A Friend tool.

If you received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like to subscribe for yourself, go to: http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/subscribe.asp.

For information on reprinting any of this information included in this issue of Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential, go to: http://kevineikenberry.com/uypw/reprints.asp

© 2010 The Kevin Eikenberry Group – All Rights Reserved

The Kevin Eikenberry Group
http://www.kevineikenberry.com
7035 Bluffridge Way
Indianapolis, IN 46278