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Free Leadership Article

The Decision Making Style for Leaders in a New Leadership Role

It is clear that the effectiveness of different leadership behaviours is mitigated by the situation in which the leader is operating. What is effective in one situation is not effective in another. Yet this does not mean that leaders are left rudderless with no guidance as to what is likely to be effective when. Contingency leadership theories offer evidence-based advice on which behaviours are effective in different circumstances - including the right time to use different decision-making modes such as decree, consultation, consensus and delegation.

 

As a leader starting out in a new leadership role, you create a specific context. In such a circumstance it is important to establish the sense of authority required to build trust in your judgment balanced with a regard for the views of those already within the workplace. You can do this by adopting the consultation method of decision-making as your dominant approach for the first few months. Such an approach involves:

  • Identifying who will be affected by and/or has expertise in the situation at hand.
  • Actively seeking out their views and the logic behind them, whilst keeping the overall business situation (see the first article in this newsletter) at the centre of everyone's responses.
  • Making the decision yourself and communicating it clearly to all involved.

By adopting a consultation style to decision making during your first few months in your new role, you show you value the wisdom of those around you whilst also establishing your authority. Further you allow yourself room to learn - about the new business unit, your new role and the strengths of those around you. With this authority, goodwill and learning in place, you are far better positioned to start choosing which decisions should be made by decree, consensus and delegation along with  those where consultation remains the most appropriate mode. Vroom's normative model provides a practical, evidence-based guide to making these choices from that point on.

 

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