Leaders who have adopted a cooperative approach to decision-making and have courses for leadership and management recognize that individuals must be valued, respected, listened to, and included. This strategy improves the performance of their organizations. It yields more streamlined outcomes, as the incapacity to make sensible decisions would cause your organization to suffer because nothing would be accomplished.

A vital part of being a successful leader is the ability to make timely and well-informed decisions. To make sound decisions, decisive leaders seek the necessary information and demonstrate an understanding of the details held by their colleagues, direct reports, and other leaders.

Leaders with decisiveness and continuing professional development are able to weigh the costs of continuing to collect information, deliberate, and defer a decision against the costs of making poor decisions. A decisive leader is aware of competing costs and weighs them meticulously, but most importantly, they make plain and final decisions.

Good leaders encourage feedback from their team and, whenever possible, obtain the perspectives of various business-critical individuals. These voices may shed light on a previously unconsidered perspective, whether from HR, marketing, sales, R&D, or operations. They listen before communicating and foster an environment where feedback is anticipated and valued.

They also assign a team or individual to challenge the status quo and incorporate this into the monthly meeting agenda. This will ensure a balanced perspective during the decision-making process.

Lastly, they comprehend their influence as a leader and decision-makers. They do what they say and say what they mean; they do not conceal behind corporate jargon. They participate in other departments and employees’ projects as frequently as their schedule permits. They follow the golden principles of engagement with their employees by treating them with the respect and consideration they deserve.

If you want to be a more effective leader, check the infographic below from Corporate Learning Solutions to learn more about decision-making.