How Leaders Can Make Intentional Decisions in a Fast-Paced World
In today’s fast-paced world, leaders are often pressured to make decisions rapidly. However, Jerry Colonna suggests that slowing down can lead to more effective, ethical, and resilient leadership. This approach challenges the common narrative that equates quick decision-making with competence.
The Myth of Speed in Leadership
Contemporary business culture often encourages swift action, associating it with agility and decisiveness. Colonna argues that hasty decisions can result in poor outcomes and a failure to address deeper organizational needs. He uses the phrase “traveling too fast over false ground” to describe how rapid decisions can be superficial, lacking reflection and long-term vision.
The Importance of Deliberation and Radical Inquiry
Colonna advocates for a leadership approach centered on radical self-inquiry. Leaders should question their intentions, values, and impact before making major decisions. He recommends asking reflective questions such as:
- Are we building the company we want to work for?
- Are we in integrity with our vision and mission?
- How would we feel if our children worked at this company?
These questions serve as a moral imperative, guiding leaders to consider broader and future consequences of their actions.
Intentionality and Creating the Space to Decide
Slowing down isn’t about indecision but creating intentional space to sit with ambiguity, gather diverse perspectives, and sense emergent themes. Colonna emphasizes that deliberation is a necessity for effective leadership, especially in complex, high-stakes situations.
The Role of Vulnerability and Emotional Awareness
Cultivating self-compassion and emotional awareness is crucial. Recognizing that better humans make better leaders, Colonna suggests confronting vulnerabilities and biases to break patterns like conflict avoidance, leading to healthier organizations.
Practical Applications
Leaders should pause to ask foundational questions, encourage multiple voices, and reflect, especially at inflection points. The goal is to build an organization aligned with everyone’s values and aspirations.
For more insights, visit Inc.com.
How Leaders Can Make Intentional Decisions in a Fast-Paced World
Embracing Vulnerability for Better Leadership
Colonna further emphasizes that vulnerability is a cornerstone of effective leadership. He suggests that leaders often hide behind masks of authority, which can prevent them from connecting authentically with their teams. By embracing vulnerability, leaders can foster trust and create an environment where employees feel safe to express their concerns and ideas. This, in turn, leads to more collaborative and innovative problem-solving.
The Power of Intentionality in Decision-Making
Intentionality is not just about slowing down but also about being deliberate in every decision. Colonna highlights that leaders must create spaces for reflection, where they can sit with ambiguity and gather diverse perspectives. This approach ensures that decisions are not only well-thought-out but also aligned with the organization’s values and long-term vision. He stresses that this is not a luxury but a necessity, especially when navigating complex, high-stakes situations.
Radical Self-Inquiry: A Path to Ethical Leadership
At the heart of Colonna’s philosophy is radical self-inquiry, a process that goes beyond surface-level decision-making. Leaders are encouraged to question their intentions, values, and desired impact before making major decisions. This involves asking tough questions like, “Are we building the company we want to work for?” and “How would we feel if our children worked at this company?” These questions serve as a moral compass, guiding leaders to consider the broader and future consequences of their actions.
Cultivating Emotional Awareness
Emotional awareness is another critical component of intentional leadership. Colonna argues that leaders must cultivate self-compassion and recognize their own vulnerabilities and biases. This self-awareness allows leaders to break free from patterns of behavior such as conflict avoidance, defensiveness, or the reflex to “cover up” authority. By doing so, leaders can create healthier, more human-centered organizations where empathy and understanding are valued.
Practical Steps for Intentional Leadership
Colonna offers practical advice for leaders looking to adopt a more intentional approach. He suggests that when faced with important decisions, leaders should pause to ask foundational questions rather than rushing to the fastest solution. Teams should be encouraged to bring in multiple voices and perspectives, and time should be allocated for reflection, especially at critical inflection points. The ultimate goal is not just to make the “right” decision but to build an organization that aligns with everyone’s deepest values and aspirations.
For more insights, visit Inc.com.
Conclusion
In a world that often prioritizes speed over substance, leaders are challenged to rethink their approach to decision-making. By slowing down and embracing radical self-inquiry, vulnerability, and emotional awareness, leaders can make more intentional, ethical, and resilient decisions. This approach not only fosters trust and collaboration within organizations but also ensures that decisions align with the company’s values and long-term vision. Intentional leadership is not about hesitation but about creating space for reflection, diverse perspectives, and a deeper connection to the organization’s mission. By prioritizing deliberation and self-awareness, leaders can build stronger, more human-centered organizations that thrive in complexity and uncertainty.
FAQ
What are the benefits of slowing down in decision-making?
Slowing down allows leaders to reflect, gather diverse perspectives, and make more ethical and resilient decisions. It helps avoid superficial outcomes and ensures alignment with the organization’s values and long-term vision.
How can leaders practice radical self-inquiry?
Leaders can practice radical self-inquiry by asking reflective questions such as, “Are we building the company we want to work for?” and “How would we feel if our children worked at this company?” These questions guide leaders to consider broader and future consequences of their actions.
What role does vulnerability play in leadership?
Vulnerability fosters trust and creates an environment where employees feel safe to express their concerns and ideas. It leads to more collaborative and innovative problem-solving within the organization.
How can leaders handle the pressure to make quick decisions?
Leaders can handle pressure by creating intentional space for reflection, encouraging diverse perspectives, and focusing on long-term vision over short-term gains. This approach ensures decisions are well-thought-out and aligned with the organization’s values.
What practical steps can leaders take to adopt intentional decision-making?
Leaders should pause to ask foundational questions, encourage multiple voices, and allocate time for reflection, especially at critical inflection points. The goal is to build an organization aligned with everyone’s deepest values and aspirations.