Tag Archives: Leadership

Building a Strong Team Through Open Communication: Why Leaders Should Avoid Saying ‘NO’

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I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that during the first decade of my career, I was consistently led by managers who lacked the ability to listen to their team. Whenever I requested something, their immediate response was always “no.” And if I persisted, I would either be fired or transferred to a different department. These administrators reminded me of strict parents, constantly saying “no” to their children’s requests: “Dad, can we eat pasta tonight?” “No.” “Mom, can I sleep over at my friend’s house tonight?” “No.” I understand why some parents adopt this approach, but they do so out of fear of losing control and letting the family fall apart. However, I believe that involving children in family decisions from a young age leads to a better outcome for the whole family. In a similar vein, managers who constantly say “no” are not influential leaders in my opinion.

My professional life turned for the better when I was hired by a manager who not only gave me the job, I wanted but also listened to and responded positively to every idea I had. It was years later that I realized there was a significant difference between a leader and a manager. A true leader can inspire and develop future leaders by embracing the ideas and input of others. In contrast, a manager may be able to efficiently run an office until their retirement, but they may not have the capacity to develop future leaders. This distinction highlights the importance of finding leaders who are not only knowledgeable and experienced but also open-minded and inclusive in their approach to leading a team.

After working with such a leader, I was inspired to build my own business, and I strove to be a good leader for the nearly 150 employees who worked for the company. I made a conscious effort to never immediately say “no” to my team’s requests and ideas. If I couldn’t give them what they wanted at the moment, I simply responded by saying, “I’ll think about it.” This approach not only helped me build a strong and productive team but also allowed me to continue to grow and improve as a leader. By being open-minded and considering the perspectives of others, I was able to foster a positive and collaborative work environment that led to successful business outcomes.

Saying “I’ll think about it” instead of simply saying “no” can be more effective. It helps maintain open communication, fosters trust, and ensures that decisions are made with the best information available. It shows that the leader is open-minded: By not immediately rejecting an idea, the leader is sending the message that they are willing to consider it and are open to new ideas and suggestions. This can help to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within the team.

Also as a leader sometimes you need time to make a rightful decision. Saying “I’ll think about it” gives the leader time to consider the proposal and make an informed decision. This can be especially useful when the leader needs to gather more information or consult with others before making a decision. By not immediately rejecting an idea, the leader is inviting the team to discuss it. This can be an opportunity for the team to provide additional information, clarify their position, and find common ground.

In my experience, the most critical aspect of avoiding immediate rejection is that it fosters trust between a leader and their team. When a leader says, “I’ll think about it,” it demonstrates that they value their team’s input and are dedicated to making thoughtful and informed decisions. This approach can help to establish a positive working relationship with the team and build trust over time. By being open-minded and taking the time to consider all options, leaders can develop a more collaborative and supportive work environment.

  • leadership
  • open-mindedness
  • collaboration
  • team building
  • positive work environment
  • decision-making
  • trust-building
  • effective communication
  • employee engagement
  • productivity
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Avoiding Business Pitfalls: Top 5 Mistakes to Watch Out for When Making Decisions

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1- Having Limited Information:

Making decisions without sufficient information can often lead to bad outcomes. When we don’t have all the facts and data needed to make an informed choice, we may make decisions based on incomplete or incorrect information. This can result in decisions that are inefficient, ineffective, or even harmful. For example, if you are trying to decide which company to invest in and you don’t have all the financial information about the company, you might make an incorrect decision that costs you money. Similarly, if you are trying to choose between different medical treatments and don’t have all the information about the risks and benefits of each option, you might make a decision that has negative consequences for your health. In conclusion, it’s important to gather as much information as possible before making any decision, especially if the decision is significant or has far-reaching consequences. This will help you make the best possible choice, based on accurate and comprehensive information.

2- Lack of Planning:

Lack of planning is a common mistake that can lead to wrongful decisions or failure in proper business decisions. When people don’t take the time to plan and fully consider all the options and potential outcomes, they may make hasty or uninformed choices that don’t align with their goals and values.

Here are some ways lack of planning can lead to wrongful decisions:

  • Limited perspective: Without planning, people often don’t consider all the alternatives and only focus on the most obvious solutions. This can limit their perspective and prevent them from seeing creative and innovative solutions.
  • Uninformed choices: Planning helps people gather all the necessary information to make an informed decision. Without planning, people may make decisions based on limited or incorrect information, leading to poor outcomes.
  • Missed opportunities: Proper planning helps people identify potential risks and opportunities. Without planning, people may miss opportunities or overlook potential risks, leading to decisions that are not in their best interests.
  • Ineffective decisions: When people don’t plan, they may make decisions that are inefficient or ineffective. For example, they may choose a solution that is not the most cost-effective or that doesn’t address the root cause of a problem.

3- Overconfidence:

Overconfidence can reduce our success in making good decisions because it blinds us to the limitations of our own knowledge and abilities. It can cause us to ignore evidence, refuse to seek advice, take unnecessary risks, and make hasty decisions. To make the best possible decisions, it’s important to be aware of our own limitations and to seek out diverse perspectives and information. This can help us make well-informed and thought-out choices. When people are overly confident, they may:

  • Ignore evidence: Overconfident individuals often ignore evidence that contradicts their beliefs, which can lead to a lack of critical thinking and poor decision-making.
  • Refuse to seek advice: Overconfident people may believe they know everything they need to know, and as a result, they may not seek advice or consider the opinions of others. This can lead to a lack of diverse perspectives and incomplete information.
  • Take unnecessary risks: Overconfident individuals may take excessive risks without fully considering the potential consequences, which can result in poor outcomes.
  • Make hasty decisions: Overconfident individuals may make hasty decisions without taking the time to fully consider all the options and potential outcomes.

here’s an example of how overconfidence can reduce success in making a good decision:

Let’s say that a person is an experienced stock trader and has had several successful trades in the past. They become overconfident in their ability to make profitable trades and decide to invest all their savings into a high-risk stock without thoroughly researching the company or considering other investment options. Despite their past successes, their overconfidence causes them to make poor decisions, and the stock ends up performing poorly, leading to significant financial losses.

4- Emotional bias:

Emotional biases refer to the ways in which our emotions and feelings can influence our decision-making. When emotions are involved, we may be more likely to make decisions based on irrational thinking and less likely to consider objective facts and logical reasoning. Irma Parone the author of WIN X: The Problem-Solving Model to Win Exponentially with Customers, Employees, and Your Bottom line, gives us some valuable entrepreneurial tips:

“Decision-making is a science, a practice, but it is not an exact science and, as we know, it’s very much connected to our emotions, to how we feel on a given day or time.”

Here is a sad but true example of how emotional biases can cause bad decision-making in a small business:

A small business owner is facing a difficult decision about whether to lay off a portion of their workforce to cut costs. They have a strong emotional connection to their employees, who have been with the company for many years, and the thought of laying them off is causing them great stress and anxiety. As a result, they may make a hasty decision to lay off more employees than is necessary, or to avoid laying off anyone at all and put the company at risk of financial collapse.

5- Groupthink:

Groupthink is one of the common mistakes in the process of decision-making. Groupthink is a phenomenon that can occur in groups where individuals are under pressure to conform to the opinions of the group rather than think independently. Groupthink can lead to poor decision-making because it can:

  • Suppress dissent: Groupthink can lead individuals to suppress their own opinions and thoughts to conform to the views of the group, resulting in a lack of diverse perspectives and information.
  • Create an illusion of unanimity: Groupthink can create a false sense of unanimity, making it seem like everyone in the group agrees with a particular course of action, when in reality, some people may have differing opinions.
  • Reinforce faulty assumptions: Groupthink can cause individuals to reinforce each other’s faulty assumptions, leading to a lack of critical thinking and poor decision-making.
  • Limit creativity: Groupthink can limit creativity by discouraging individuals from considering alternative solutions or ideas.

I feel that my weakness in making good decisions most of the time is that I am under the influence of groupthink. To change this, I need to take some steps for myself. Firstly, I need to acknowledge the influence of groupthink in my decision-making and be more intentional about overcoming its effects. Secondly, I need to encourage open communication and make sure that everyone in the group feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions, even if they differ from the majority. Thirdly, I need to seek out diverse perspectives and gather information and opinions from a variety of sources, both within and outside of the group. Fourthly, I need to practice critical thinking and challenge myself to consider different perspectives and evaluate the evidence and arguments presented by the group. Finally, I need to make independent decisions and trust my own judgment, even if it differs from the group’s consensus. By following these steps, I can help myself overcome the influence of groupthink and make better, more informed decisions that align with my values and goals.

The Sorrows of Broadway: A Walk Through a Pandemic-Stricken Street

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I was walking down the street from my workplace to Grand Central Market to grab a coffee when suddenly I felt how sad Broadway Street was. Broadway is a major street in downtown Los Angeles, California. It runs from the eastern edge of downtown, near the Los Angeles River, to the city’s west side. It is one of the oldest streets in the city and was once the city’s main commercial thoroughfare.

It’s possible that the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the atmosphere of Broadway, leading to a decrease in foot traffic and overall activity. Many businesses along the street may have closed or reduced their hours of operation due to the pandemic, which can contribute to a less vibrant atmosphere. Additionally, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic may have led to job losses and financial struggles for many people, which can also contribute to a more somber mood.

Broadway Street

I almost cried as I waited for the light to turn green to cross 4th and Broadway. A little further on the sidewalk, there was a homeless man sitting right in front of the Grand Central Market, begging for food, and a few people were in line to order their egg sandwiches. No one seemed happy.

Financial situations can have a major impact on people’s emotions and overall well-being. Moreover, I think financial stress can cause feelings of anxiety, worry, and depression, which can be further exacerbated by an economic downturn like the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Job losses and financial struggles can lead to uncertainty and insecurity about the future, which can have a significant impact on mental and emotional health. Additionally, financial difficulties can also lead to practical problems such as difficulty paying bills and maintaining housing, which can add to the stress and negative feelings. With the ongoing pandemic and the financial struggles of many people, it is not uncommon for some people to feel sadness, uncertainty, and insecurity about the future.

I was thinking about the ways I could be somehow useful to my community. Maybe I could:

  • Volunteer my time or skills. Many organizations need volunteers to help with various tasks, such as providing meals, running errands, or providing counseling services.
  • Support small businesses. Consider shopping at small, locally-owned businesses instead of large corporations.
  • Help spread awareness. Share information about resources and assistance programs with friends, family, and community members who may be struggling.
  • Be kind and compassionate. Showing kindness and understanding to those around you who may be going through a difficult time can make a big difference in their lives.
  • Participate in community activities, such as cleaning up a park or organizing a community meal, that can bring people together and build a sense of community.

These activities are good but not good enough to overcome the current economic situation and financial difficulties we all face. The government should provide financial assistance to small businesses in the form of loans, grants, and tax breaks. Non-profit organizations should work hard to cover more small entities and support them financially or provide them with business improvement advisory services.

Small businesses also need to be proactive and take responsibility for their businesses in different ways such as:

  • Take advantage of digital marketing strategies such as social media, email marketing, and search engine optimization to reach more customers.
  • Form partnerships with other businesses or organizations to share resources and customers.
  • Reduce their costs by implementing cost-saving measures such as reducing inventory, negotiating better deals with suppliers, and cutting back on unnecessary expenses.
  • Diversify their products and services to adapt to changing market conditions and reach new customers.
  • Develop new and innovative products or services to stay ahead of the competition.
  • Learn to be flexible and adaptable to changing market conditions and customer needs.
  • Always seek advice and counseling from experts in the field or from business development centers to help them navigate the current economic situation.