Years ago, I was invited to help mediate a leadership meeting between two department heads. Both were smart. Both had valid points. And both were convinced the other was the problem.
The leader—let’s call him Rey—listened carefully. He nodded. He thanked everyone for their input. But at the end of the meeting, he said:
“Let’s give it more time. I’ll think about it.”
Weeks passed. Nothing changed. Morale dipped.
Eventually, one of the department heads resigned.
When I asked Rey why he didn’t make a decision, he said something I’ve never forgotten:
“I didn’t want to make the wrong call. I thought if I waited long enough, the right answer would become obvious.”
But the only thing that became obvious… was that he didn’t decide.
And his indecision was, in itself, a decision. One that cost him trust.
Because leadership is decision-making—on display.
Whether you’re running a company or leading a team of five, the job comes with one guarantee: you’ll have to make tough calls.
Sometimes they’ll be strategic.
Sometimes they’ll be personal.
Sometimes they’ll be unpopular.
And when you delay, avoid, or over-explain?
You don’t just slow things down—you shrink your leadership presence.
But making hard decisions isn’t about being fearless.
It’s about being anchored—to values, to clarity, and to courage.
Why Most Leaders Struggle With Decisions
It’s not just fear of being wrong.
It’s fear of being blamed.
We ask:
- “What if this backfires?”
- “What will they think of me?”
- “What if I lose their support?”
So we second-guess. We gather “just one more opinion.” We look for unanimous agreement. And when we can’t find it, we freeze.
But leadership isn’t about consensus.
It’s about conviction in motion.
And the truth is, your people would rather follow a clear decision they don’t fully agree with—than follow a leader who disappears into ambiguity.
Which brings us to the turning point.
Great leadership isn’t an event—it’s a habit. Get actionable leadership habits every Monday and Thursday.
What Makes a Decision Stand the Test?
Let me tell you about Maricel.
She was the head of a regional program that was hemorrhaging budget. Everyone knew something had to change, but no one wanted to make the hard cuts.
So Maricel listened. Consulted. Got the numbers. And then… she made a call.
She paused three initiatives. Reassigned two team leads. Realigned goals with available resources.
There was pushback, of course. But there was also something else: respect.
Why? Because she didn’t hide.
She explained her decision clearly.
She invited dialogue but didn’t depend on consensus.
And most importantly—she stood by her call.
That’s what made it a leadership moment, not just a policy move.
Clarity and Commitment Build Trust
In Decisive, authors Chip and Dan Heath explain that great decision-makers don’t always get it perfect—but they follow a process that’s transparent, inclusive, and time-bound.
“Avoiding a decision is not a neutral act—it has costs.”
The Center for Creative Leadership adds that decisiveness is one of the top predictors of leadership effectiveness—especially during change or crisis.
And in Google’s Project Oxygen, high-performing managers had one trait in common: they made decisions with confidence—and took ownership, no matter the outcome.
So if you’re afraid of making the wrong decision, consider this:
A clear, values-based decision with consequences is still better than a safe delay that erodes trust.
Which leads us to the shift.
How to Decide—and Lead Through the Decision
Here’s what separates great decision-makers from hesitant ones:
- They frame the decision. “This is the challenge. Here are the stakes.”
- They gather input without giving away the authority.
- They act with timing. Not rushed. Not delayed. Timed with intention.
- They communicate with clarity. Not defensiveness.
- They prepare for pushback. And welcome it with maturity.
When you lead decisions this way, even the people who don’t agree can still respect the process.
Because it wasn’t reactive.
It was deliberate.
And that’s what earns leadership credibility.
The Goal Isn’t Being Liked. It’s Being Trusted.
You won’t always get it right.
But people will forgive a wrong decision far sooner than they’ll forgive a leader who never decides at all.
So make the call.
Own the why.
Be transparent about the tradeoffs.
And move forward.
Because the moment you commit, your team can too.
What’s Your Take?
What decision are you putting off right now—hoping it’ll solve itself?
If you’re stuck between pressure, uncertainty, or people-pleasing, you’re not alone.
But this is the moment that defines leadership: when you step forward anyway.
Need clarity? Need a sounding board? Let’s talk.
I offer workshops, decision-making coaching, and leadership strategy sessions that help leaders move through the fog—and make decisions they can stand behind.
No more waiting.
It’s time to decide.
