Sometimes leaders must let a strategy, situation, or problem play out before deciding what to do about it. Waiting for events to unfold can be painstakingly hard. The desire to act can be overwhelming for some leaders. But inaction is often the best course. Or, as Teddy Roosevelt liked to describe it,
Intentionally observing developments and gathering intelligence is NOT the same as inaction. Time was once defined as the thing that keeps everything from happening all at once. Timing and sequencing should be part of every action plan.
Anyone in a position to criticize the leader is a key stakeholder and part of the leader’s job is to communicate that the action being taken is to wait until certain developments mature. Like any decision, that can be wrong or right, and listening to other voices is important. However, the issue is not one of indecisiveness or in action, but rather either one of communication failure, or the wrong choice of action,
I think a bigger part of the question is that leaders must avoid confusing themselves about intentional waiting versus inaction.
Many leaders can appear to be very decisive about waiting to take action, but in fact, may be fooling themselves and actually procrastinating. This requires self reflection rather than inability to take criticism.
Intentionally observing developments and gathering intelligence is NOT the same as inaction. Time was once defined as the thing that keeps everything from happening all at once. Timing and sequencing should be part of every action plan.
Agreed, Eric. But leaders will still feel pressure to make fast decisions to avoid the criticism of the appearance of inaction.
The pressure for leaders to make fast decisions will always make it appear that anything less than a decision is inaction.
Leaders need to be prepared to take that criticism.
Anyone in a position to criticize the leader is a key stakeholder and part of the leader’s job is to communicate that the action being taken is to wait until certain developments mature. Like any decision, that can be wrong or right, and listening to other voices is important. However, the issue is not one of indecisiveness or in action, but rather either one of communication failure, or the wrong choice of action,
I think a bigger part of the question is that leaders must avoid confusing themselves about intentional waiting versus inaction.
Many leaders can appear to be very decisive about waiting to take action, but in fact, may be fooling themselves and actually procrastinating. This requires self reflection rather than inability to take criticism.