Very often, organizations become distracted by unessential
extraneous issues rather than getting to the crux of the matter.
Generally, this is because many leaders lack the training and skills to
adequately identify and
separate major from minor issues. This scenario occurs in organizations, all forms of business entities, service - based industries (such as Real Estate professionals, etc), and, as well, in our personal lives!
This is normally a rather simple issue to address if an organization creates a well thought- out, properly structured, professionally designed leadership training program. This program should teach leaders how to effectively listen to first understand what someone is not only saying, but what they mean. It should also teach leaders not to let their own opinions, prejudices, or biases impact their interpretation of any proposal or issue.
Organizations often assume that their leadership is capable of decision making, but if leaders are not adequately trained, they often do not have the structure or format needed to carefully review, evaluate and decide the merits of an issue. However, even the best leadership training cannot teach a leader to "stand up for his beliefs," have courage, and avoid procrastination.
In my review and work with not-for-profit organizations over the last three decades, I have noticed that it's far more common for leaders to make costly errors by lack of action, than by action. That is not to say that erroneous and ill-designed actions cannot and are not potentially catastrophic, but that when a leader avoids confronting an issue, and tells me he was "adopting a wait-and-see" attitude, or "didn't want to micromanage," or "couldn't change what happened anyway," etc., then that individual was extremely neglectful in his duties.
Please understand that I am not saying that leaders should act rashly, or take action merely to take action, but rather that leaders need to evaluate an issue thoroughly, and come up with a timely decision based on the facts available, while doing whatever due diligence is possible. Leaders must realize that everyone makes mistakes, but that to just "go along with the crowd" when you disagree, exhibits anything but leadership skills.
Organizations must teach their leaders to get to the crux of issues, and not get bogged down in discussions about less important extraneous issues. Leaders must be trained in the techniques of prioritizing and must "stay on track" if they are to accomplish their mission. Human nature often causes people to lose focus, because of emotionalizing a particular issue or getting "hung up' on one issue without keeping one's focus. That is one of the major reasons that many organizations often do not accomplish what they set out to. Getting something accomplished requires creating a well thought- out action plan, defining and delegating duties, creating a timetable, staying on task, and constant review and follow-up. It often requires some tweaking along the way to assure success. Leaders must truly lead!
This is normally a rather simple issue to address if an organization creates a well thought- out, properly structured, professionally designed leadership training program. This program should teach leaders how to effectively listen to first understand what someone is not only saying, but what they mean. It should also teach leaders not to let their own opinions, prejudices, or biases impact their interpretation of any proposal or issue.
Organizations often assume that their leadership is capable of decision making, but if leaders are not adequately trained, they often do not have the structure or format needed to carefully review, evaluate and decide the merits of an issue. However, even the best leadership training cannot teach a leader to "stand up for his beliefs," have courage, and avoid procrastination.
In my review and work with not-for-profit organizations over the last three decades, I have noticed that it's far more common for leaders to make costly errors by lack of action, than by action. That is not to say that erroneous and ill-designed actions cannot and are not potentially catastrophic, but that when a leader avoids confronting an issue, and tells me he was "adopting a wait-and-see" attitude, or "didn't want to micromanage," or "couldn't change what happened anyway," etc., then that individual was extremely neglectful in his duties.
Please understand that I am not saying that leaders should act rashly, or take action merely to take action, but rather that leaders need to evaluate an issue thoroughly, and come up with a timely decision based on the facts available, while doing whatever due diligence is possible. Leaders must realize that everyone makes mistakes, but that to just "go along with the crowd" when you disagree, exhibits anything but leadership skills.
Organizations must teach their leaders to get to the crux of issues, and not get bogged down in discussions about less important extraneous issues. Leaders must be trained in the techniques of prioritizing and must "stay on track" if they are to accomplish their mission. Human nature often causes people to lose focus, because of emotionalizing a particular issue or getting "hung up' on one issue without keeping one's focus. That is one of the major reasons that many organizations often do not accomplish what they set out to. Getting something accomplished requires creating a well thought- out action plan, defining and delegating duties, creating a timetable, staying on task, and constant review and follow-up. It often requires some tweaking along the way to assure success. Leaders must truly lead!
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